Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 ...He's like Rodney Dangerfield, "No respect!" I guess I'd be included. I probably only have 5 or 6 coins of his, mostly unphotographed. The Sicily mint produced the best AE's, in my opinion. I have better ones, but this is the photographed one, an unassuming throw-in. Feel free to include your best photographed coins of Constans II. I went to a 2009 coin show with the intention of buying a solidus but just as I was about to pay for it, I spotted a Heraclius 'Jerusalem' from the same seller and back it went. It was a troubled time so one would think there would be more rapidly hoarded coins in better condition. However, like S805, this doesn't seem to be the case. 19x26mm, S1006, seller didn't include the weight. I wonder if the patina is phoney? I bought it from a dealer who has some pretty nice Byzantines, many with seemingly authentic earthen highlights, with few orange ones. Here's an example: 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 I saw that Heraclius Jerusalem. For an ugly coin, whew 375 hammer! Probably the first I remember seeing though. I must agree, Constans II from Constantinople is about as bad as they get. When people ask about attributions I have to say “good luck” as they all look bad. Here’s a nicer one from Carthage. His Sicilian pieces, and Carthage pieces, did get a little respect. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentinian Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 37 minutes ago, ela126 said: I saw that Heraclius Jerusalem. For an ugly coin, whew 375 hammer! Where? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 4 minutes ago, Valentinian said: Where? https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nummitra/browse?a=4929&l=5968254 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentinian Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 You're right, that Heraclius from Jerusalem coin sure is ugly. But, I'm glad to see some people still value rarity. I'm glad collecting is not all about condition (like US-coin collecting is tending toward). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 For half the price I would have loved to be the owner. I imagine the final bidders have narrowed their needs quite a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted September 2 · Member Author Share Posted September 2 The Jerusalem/Syrian military mint to which I was referring was a solidus, another dealer's coin show flip from Pegasi. There was a small finder's gash, but luckily it only affected the initial d in the legend, if that. It was either $450 or 475 at the time. Back went the common Constans I was about to purchase from the same dealer. The last online auction I participated in was sometime before 1998. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcwyler Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 Mine won't win any prizes, but it does demonstrate his nickname, and I like the portrait. Don't mess with the beardies... 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted September 2 · Member Author Share Posted September 2 Honestly most of the Constans II coins I have were from Allen Berman's 4 for 20 mail-in junk box coins (which weren't that bad). I think I have a halfway decent Sicilian AE from him. I'm enjoying a glass of spiced red wine (leftover from the making of beef burgundy stew for tonight). My regular brand was out of stock (bad grape harvest in Michigan?). Luckily there was another Michigan spiced wine available. This one's a lot sweeter but perhaps that's good for the stew. It's not bad for a $10 bottle. Anyone have any theories why coins of this period weren't hoarded more quickly? One would think a Gallienus type hoarding situation would be going on. Heraclian folles from Thessalonica and Seleucia/Isaura tend to be less worn but that isn't the case for most of the other AE mints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celator Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 Jerusalem 🤯 Constans II 644 to 645 AD Mint: Ravenna AE Follis Obvs: DN CONSTANTINVS PP. Bust facing, wearing crown and chalamys, and holding globus cruciger. Revs: M between ANNO and numerals II II. Cross above, RAV in exergue. 20x26mm, 3.7g Ref: SB 1138, Gr.--, DOC 206 @Nerosmyfavorite68 I don't belive that is a sb1006. 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted September 2 · Member Author Share Posted September 2 Way cool, Celator. My favorite mint! Which type do you think it is? I'm relatively bad about ID'ing Constans II AE's from the capital. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Celator Posted September 2 · Member Share Posted September 2 With that obverse I would lean towards sb 1004. The others have a standing Constans II. Yours also appears to be over struck on another follis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewomack Posted September 2 · Supporter Share Posted September 2 There hasn't been a Byzantine-themed thread here in a while. Also, I've come across nothing Byzantine-wise that I've wanted to buy for quite some time. Is there a Byzantine lull in the market currently? I'm probably just missing them because I'm not looking as fervently as I used to. But yes, poor Constans II. Not only do his coins not get any respect, but he was apparently killed in the bath by a servant brandishing a soap dish. It was probably made of marble and a formidable weapon. One can only imagine. I have only a single Constans II. I like that it shows off his generous beard. Constans II (641-668), AE Follis / 40 Nummi, Syracuse, 652-3, AE 23-27mm. 6g. Constans standing facing, wearing crown and chlamys, holding globus cruciger in right hand; I/H/Δ to l., I/A to right / Large M; cross above; SCL. MIB 208, DOC 179, Sear 1108 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted September 2 · Member Author Share Posted September 2 1 hour ago, Celator said: With that obverse I would lean towards sb 1004. The others have a standing Constans II. Yours also appears to be over struck on another follis. Thank you. I'll update my excel list. I had lazily copied the saved dealer listing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentinian Posted September 3 · Member Share Posted September 3 Here is a Constans II with the "K" for "20" neatly turned into a monogram for his name by attaching an omega at the bottom and crossing the top to make a "T". 24 mm. 4.38 grams. Sear 1113. Struck 650/1 at Syracuse. It is dated by indiction year "I" (10 in Greek) Bought privately in 1994 from a man who bought it from "House of Constantine" list 16, lot 283, May 1975. Long beard, holding globus cruciger, palm in right field. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted September 3 · Member Share Posted September 3 was going to post a different one but this is a solid example from Sicily. Follows the cool monogram as Valentinian’s awesome piece, this one is a follis. Sb 1107 ex Mike Gasvoda 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Postvmvs Posted September 3 · Member Share Posted September 3 (edited) Continuing on for Sicily, here is the 10 nummi : Constans II 641-668AD, Syracuse mint, 10 nummi Obverse: Crowned bust facing, holding globus cruciger Reverse: Large I, A/N to left, N/O/I to right struck 651-652AD (10 indictional year) Sear 1115 Edited September 3 by Postvmvs 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted September 3 · Member Share Posted September 3 Constans II is a frequent thread here and I have already posted several coins, but here are two that I have not posted: Byzantine Empire: Constans II (641-668) Æ Half Follis, Syracuse (Sear 1113; DOC II.183; MIB 212; Anastasi 118; Berk 699) Obv: Crowned facing bust with long beard, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger; cross surmounted by palm frond to right Rev: Large Kω monogram; A/N and I across field Byzantine Empire: Constans II (641-668) Æ Half Follis, Carthage (Sear-1060/1059 Mule) Obv: Crowned and draped bust facing, holding mappa and globus cruciger, crown ornamented with cross Rev: Large cross; C-T above X-X across field; above, star between two pellets 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hrefn Posted September 3 · Supporter Share Posted September 3 Since the conclusion of the epic Byzantine thread, there has been no occasion to feature the following coins. I thought a group portrait might be OK. These are all solidi attributed to Constans II. The first is Sear 937. This coin has also been attributed to Constans II’s brother Heraclonas, the son of Heraclius and his unpopular wife Martina. Heraclonas reigned as sole emperor for about 6 months in AD 641 after the death of his half brother Heraclius Constantine, and before associating (perhaps involuntarily) with his other half brother Constans II (Constantinus on the coins) as co-emperor. If this coin is of Constans II, there may be no known coins of Heraclonas as emperor. Which I find odd, since striking coins in your own name is one of the first moves of an emperor to broadcast his legitimacy. Note the CONOBK on the reverse. The next two coins are definitely Constans II. The first is Sear 941, with CONOB+. Officina epsilon is not in Sear. The next coin is Sear 938. The fourth coin portrays Constans II with his son Constantine IV, Sear 959. The last coin has a similar obverse, but this coin was struck in Sicily, with the addition of another Heraclius and Tiberius on the reverse. Victoria is mis-spelled VICTRIA, and the reverse legend ends CIKU. I am not sure what is intended here, but I wonder if it indicates Sicilia? Sear 1085E. The peculiar elongated A’s are a feature of Sicilian coins. 6 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted September 6 · Member Share Posted September 6 (edited) Another 1st issuance follis of Constans II was just auctioned off for 300 EUR + fees 🤯. Of course, it has the ubiquitous fake sand patina...It was too rich for my blood, especially when I got mine for less than 50 EUR + fees. However, it not die-identical to either mine or Goodwin specimens, especially the globus cruciger on a long staff. Byzantine Empire: Constans II (641-668) Æ Follis, Constantinople, RY1 (Unpublished in Normal Sources) Obv: Constans II, wearing chlamys and crown with pendilia, standing facing, holding labarum and globus cruciger, around: ЄNTϪT-ONIKA Rev: Large m with cross above, either side and ending in exergue: ANA-NЄO-CIC, officina A, regal year 1 Dim: 24 mm; 4.23 g Edited September 6 by quant.geek 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted September 7 · Member Author Share Posted September 7 That's quite the Cadillac of the standing Constans type. Most of the issues are far more illegible. A clear legend and figure is about as good as it gets. In your opinion, quant.geek, is the patina on my humble (and cheap) example phoney? It came from a dealer who is pretty good about having natural patinas. I purchased mine because I wanted one of the 'fat face' issues (and wasn't prepared to pay a lot) and I found the flan to be interesting. Hrefn, in the words of Ed Grimley, "I must say!" Wow, what a lineup of solidi! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted September 7 · Member Share Posted September 7 @Nerosmyfavorite68 I think your patina is real. It’s rather thick, which is a good sign and zooming in, because you have a good picture, you can see specks of quartz in there. That is a very good sign of real sand from my experience 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nerosmyfavorite68 Posted September 7 · Member Author Share Posted September 7 Thanks! Perhaps some orange patinas are real. I deeply regret brushing the dirt off of some 1990's era Berman Heraclius S805 junk boxers. They arrived with some light in color, pretty delicate dirt. Being a stupid teenager, I took a soft brush and it easily came off. Perhaps that was a phoney patina (for that particular batch, pretty much all the others I've ever had from him were pretty bona fide), insofar as how easily it came off? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ela126 Posted September 7 · Member Share Posted September 7 19 hours ago, Nerosmyfavorite68 said: Thanks! Perhaps some orange patinas are real. I deeply regret brushing the dirt off of some 1990's era Berman Heraclius S805 junk boxers. They arrived with some light in color, pretty delicate dirt. Being a stupid teenager, I took a soft brush and it easily came off. Perhaps that was a phoney patina (for that particular batch, pretty much all the others I've ever had from him were pretty bona fide), insofar as how easily it came off? I just got an orange patina coin in today. In my experience, real sand, no matter how orange, doesn’t lift off when rubbed with a qtip (maybe a very little bit intially) fake sand patina though, immediately lifts off. A sopping wet qtip will dissolve a lot of the glue, and 2-3 more subsequent qtips will removal 90% of the sand, and leave the stops a bright orange. the issue is you may have a worse coin that you started with. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quant.geek Posted September 7 · Member Share Posted September 7 I agree with @ela126, it's real on your coin... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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