The coin that never was. Alexius pre reform follis SBCV-1910.

Simon · December 15, 2024

Many have looked for it because it is in sear, but the coin is actually a post reform coin, Alexius Comnenus SBCV-1931

This is not new knowledge, but it reminds us Sear needs an update. The information David Sear used to attribute that coin came from a 1969 publication, Michael Hendys first write of the time period. DOC 12. Now David Sear creates his catalog based on this work He includes a prereform follis of Alexius. It was included in the Sear 1980’s reprint as well. It was given the number SBCV-1910

However, 1n 1999 DOC IV the coin had been removed. It was, however, still in the most popular catalog been used by collectors around the world. So many people still seek the coin.

I recently acquired this coin at auction last month. Large coin that could easily been described as SBCV -1910, the only example that would match the earlier catalogs, the boarder of dots around the image.

5.53gm and 23.72mm

So why the confusion and what removes my doubt they coins are the same issue.

Most examples of SBCV-1931 are much lighter, the actually goal weight of a tetarteron was rarely discussed but David Metcalf had surmised 3.5gm to match 96 to the pound, same as the stamena. However, in examining examples of SBCV-1931 rarely is the goal weight achieved. Some lower and some higher. I suspect the reason for this is when they were minted, they were delivered in coin pouches, just 96 in the pouch. Not much thought was given to each coin just the weight of the pouch and the number of coins they included. This created a variation in weight for each example.

my collection of SBCV-1931 has 3 examples that exceed 5gm. Many others (excluding possible imitations of the time period. Run from 2.12gm to 6.17gm. This is out of 19 examples. The coins that exceeded 5gm would have matched the same weight of some of the late follis during the time of his rule. Such as Class K, its weights run from 4.7gm to 8.7gm. (CLBC)

Class K example

My theory is the coin reform happened rather quickly in 1092, so quickly that during the reign of Alexius Overstrikes were commonly found on tetartera over full or partial examples of the earlier coinage. I believe this to be true under the reign of Alexius I and less frequently his son John II coinage. In the time of Manuel the weights become more stable.

This is considered to be a perfect example of SBCV-1931, full legends still intact. I believe this to be the best example known.

I do have other examples of earlier tetartera of Alexius that also show the boarder of dots.

A nice example of SBCV-1929. Boarder of dots is apparent.

But the one this that ties this up neatly is the Metcalf, and Marchev/Watcher theory of die sizes. In each example of my SBCV-1931, the full die size when measurable is just 18mm. From the lightest to the heaviest examples. The only variation on official issues is some have the boarder of dots.

As for my heaviest example It lacks the dots. It weighs at 6.17 gm. Almost double of some of the same issues.