FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Byzantine Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: dougsmit on January 08, 2019, 01:42:55 pm

Title: Nicephorus II undertype
Post by: dougsmit on January 08, 2019, 01:42:55 pm
The attached photo shows an AE25, 4.69g. bronze of Nicephorus II Sear Byzantine 1782.  As usual for these, the coin was overstruck on an earlier bronze.  The seller IDed it as Leo VI but I am having trouble separating out the Leo parts and convincing myself that there is not a trace of a third type (under-undertype).  My group photo shows the coin shot with directional light (top row) and a ring light (bottom row) with both sides oriented to favor both the over strike and under.   The top image is a crop from the ringlight image that I believe might show a trace of a face at the top as well as letters from the undertype which I can not read with certainty but strike me as IhSUS but that is more of a guess than anything.  The obverse of the overtype shows a sign of doublestriking which places the right edge of the design closer to the center that the left and confuses Nicephorus' face a bit.

I am not a Byzantine specialist.  I would appreciate someone familiar with the subject could walk me through what parts of the undertype(s) seem identifiable and how to tell if there are two or just one coin below the final type.  I have identified the coin as SB 1782 which is not well represented in the easily accessed online material.  It clearly shows the labarum at left and globus crucifer just left of the bold M (which is supposed to be on 1782 but not on 1783).  More than one of the coins I found online identified as 1782 were actually 1783 (with cross and globe with trefoil).  I only have the older 1974 Sear.  Does this number difference remain the same in the newer edition?  Is there an online reference that shows a number of specimens of this coin?  As usual, it is easier to find photos of rare and gold coins than common bronzes.

Thanks in advance.  
Title: Re: Nicephorus II undertype
Post by: Obryzum on January 08, 2019, 11:24:26 pm
I think the first coin is Constantine VII, S. 1761.

I think I see a hand holding the akakia, a globus cruciger, and the end of the obverse legend ROM'

The overstrike is a John I Type A1 anonymous follis.   

The third version is Nicephorus II
Title: Re: Nicephorus II undertype
Post by: Obryzum on January 08, 2019, 11:26:00 pm
Sorry, my mistake.  John I followed Nicephorus II, so the most recent strike is John I.