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Ancient Coin and trade weights
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There is considerable debate on the exact weight of the Roman pound which is the ancestor of the Byzantine pound. Generally it has been proposed that the weight of the pound become slightly lighter over the years. Simon Bendall (Byzantine weights: an Introduction, 1996) mentions that in the Geneva Museum and the Munz Zentrum sales that a number of one pound weights varied between 324 gm and 280 gm. By about 1343 there is reasonable evidence that a pound was about 304 gm, after starting at around 327 gm and this number can be disputed.
Byzantine weights are for commercial which are in pounds, ounces or fractions, or are coin weights weighted as nomismata or solidi. Six nomismata were in an ounce, hence 72 to a pound. Complicating this is that there is evidence that possibly there was a provincial pound that was spit into 14 ounces rather than 12 ounces with seven nomismata instead of six.
Typically there are symbols associated with commercial weights, and those for coins. For a variety of reasons including archeological evidence, weights are considered to belong to the sixth and seventh centuries. Often weights bear a mark of value but little else, often these are thought to be household weights. Justinian I in 545 issued edicts for certain officials to be responsible for standards and that these weights were to be kept in a church in each city. Many weights espically round ones seem expertly made possibly from a centralized area of production, but the engraving seem at times crude, suggesting that they were then engraved locally. Square weights were adjusted by filing on the edges resulting at times in a rougher looking appearance.
284 files, last one added on Dec 19, 2023 Album viewed 202 times
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Clipped Trachys of the Late Byzantine era
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As has been discussed these are the "neatly clipped" tracheas that are often found in hoards form the late 1100's and early 1200's. During the reign of Manuel I (1143-1180) the silver content of the trachy was dropped from c.6% to c.3%. In Alexius III's time (1195-1203) these high silver types were clipped down to half size, probably officially, presumably so as to match the lower silver content of the later issues. Hendy and Grierson believe that this shearing was a consequence of the devaluation of trachy mixture during the reign of Isaac II and Alexius III. They reduced by half the already low silver content of this coin: shearing coins of previous emperors, still widely in circulation, made their trachy consistent with the intrinsic value of current emissions. Of course, this does not justify the clipping of coins of the already degraded of Isaac II and Alexius III. The structure of their dispersion in hoards indicates that, however, they were made after the other emissions. Clipped trachys appear in small amounts along with regular trachy in hoards, represents a rarity. Were clipped trachys of Manuel I, Andronicus I, Isaac II and Alexius III, and perhaps of John II; those of Manuel are less scarce. In principle, we must believe that all trachys after Manuel I have been clipped, although many have not yet appeared. There are still a number of question concerning these interesting coins. Much of this discussion is copied from conversation with Ross G. and Antvwala on the byzantine discussion board.
12 files, last one added on Sep 16, 2018 Album viewed 1 times
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Constantine IV, Pogonatus 668-685 CE
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Faced by a siege by caliph Muawija I, of Constantinople, he was the first to use the famous "greek fire:. Though it took four years, the Arabs were forced to retreat, which prevented the Muslim tide from sweeping over a infant Europe, a moment of great historical significance. Constantine deposed his two brothers, Heraclius and Tiberius, and ruled alone until his death in 685. He was succeeded by his 16 yr old son Justinian.
5 files, last one added on Nov 30, 2016 Album viewed 6 times
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Constantine VII (913-959) and Romanus I (920-944)
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The reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos was a period of artistic activity and learning. This period also saw the collection and copying of Greek books of antiquity.
The luxury of the court of this time can be seen from its treasures. These include deeply spiritual items such as ivory triptychs (for example, the ivory from the Pushkin Museum representing Christ blessing Emperor Constantine VII), or imperious expressions of power, such as the Troyes Casket, or even parodies of pagan images, such as the Veroli Casket.
In 949 the western ambassador Liudprand of Cremona was received by Constantine VII at his court. The ambassador’s amazement at the luxury is apparent from his description:
“Before the emperor’s throne stood a tree, made of gilded bronze, ist branches filled with birds also gold, uttering different cries, depending on their species. The throne was so marvellously fashioned that at one moment it seemed a low structure, and at another it rose high into the air. It was immense and guarded by lions made of bronze or of wood covered over with gold who beat the ground with their tails and gave a dreadful roar with open mouths and quivering tongues … I three times made obeisance to the emperor with my face upon the ground.”
ex from "'Archaeology in Europe' Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos"
14 files, last one added on Nov 06, 2022 Album viewed 2 times
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Latin Rulers of Constantinople and Thessalonica 1204-1261 CE
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In April 1204, Frankish and Venetian Crusaders ransacked, looted and seized Constantinople at the end of the Fourth Crusade. Nicetas Choniates, as well as Pope Innocent II both recorded how the Crusaders tore down the alters and melted the ancient bronze statues of Constantinople to melt in to small bronze coins. Theodure Lascaris son-in-law of Alexius II fled to Nicaea and set up a empire in 1208. The empire was divided roughly in three shares, each receiving a small part of Constantinople and a part farher away. One for a Latin emperor, one for the Venetians and one for the Frankish contingent, all with a number of overlapping emperors and coinage. In 1261 Michael VIII Palaeologus, founder of the last Byzantine dynasty was crowned (or recrowned as he had been co-emperor with the Nicaean Emperor John IV) in the ancient church of St. Sophia, and commited himself to the resotoration of the Byzantine Empire.
60 files, last one added on Feb 26, 2018 Album viewed 40 times
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Nicephorus II Phocas 963-969 CE
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Nicephorus Phocas was born sometime in the year 912 to the wealthy and aristocratic Phocas family of Cappadocia. The Phocas family was known as one of the most outstanding military families in all Byzantium, as well as the largest land-holding family in Cappadocia. His father was Bardas Phocas, who was Domestic of the East during the reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, but had retired in 942. Nicephorus succeeded him in the post.
Nicephorus, whose name means “Bringer of Victory”, proved to be a better general than his father was. Indeed, he was such an adept military leader that he was feared by the Moslem world as the “White Death of the Saracens.” To the Byzantines, he was respected as one of the empire’s greatest generals. He was known for his almost Cromwellian discipline, and was one of the most Puritannical leaders in all of Byzantine history. He didn’t drink, chase women, or even eat meat. When he was young he had been married to a woman whose name is unknown, and had a son named Bardas. Unfortunately, his wife had died, and Bardas was killed in a javelin-throwing accident, while practicing military tactics with a cousin. Nicephorus was so grieved by the deaths of his wife and son that he vowed never to drink wine, chase women, or eat meat for the rest of his life. He had even intended to enter a monastery, at the urging of his friend, St. Athanasius. However, his plans were changed by unfortunate events in Constantinople.
6 files, last one added on Dec 15, 2011 Album viewed 10 times
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Phocas 602-610 CE
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After Maurice Tiberius and his entire family was murdered, Phocas crowned himself emperor. While launching a campaign of terror and muder to keep himself in power, he met with military disaster from both the east and west. The Exarch of Africa Heraclius, sent his son also called Heraclius to Constantinople with a fleet, seized and executed Phocas.
The coins of Phocas are unusual because they revive an interest in portraiture, which the engravers of the stylized portraits of most early Byzantine emperors had long ignored. In contrast to the busts of other sixth-century emperors, the portrait of Phocas emphasizes his barbarian heritage. His pointed beard and his straight, shaggy hair give him a distinctly foreign appearance, and he wears a simple crown and a military cloak, the paludamentum, fastened with a fibula or pin on the right shoulder. His beard set a precedent for most later emperors.
5 files, last one added on Dec 09, 2018 Album viewed 7 times
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Pirdop Hoard
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Pirdop Hoard
The following collection is a group of 32 bronze coins found reportedly as a hoard
The 32 coins consist of five emperors from the earliest and only one of Justin I (518-27) with illegible mint date, to the latest coins that being two Heraclius follis (sb 834) yr. 612/3 and (sb805) yr. 613/4. There are four coins of Justinian I, a large and small follis of sb 163, one unk Justinian follis and a sb160. The most plentiful variety of which there are 17 is of Justin II. Nine, which are of the Constantinople mint (all sb360), five of Nicomedia (4 sb369, 1 sb370) two Thessalonica (sb366 and one unk half follis) and one from Cyzicus (sb 372). There are no coins of Tiberius II Constantine. There are six coins of Maurice Tiberius, three sb 509, one sb 497 and one sb 518. There are two unidentified coins, one being a half follis and the one a clipped Pentanummium.
The coins are of good metal al in reasonably good condition showing little wear as in typical for these. There is a heavy green cupreous oxide patina on some of the coins obscuring details. Several have uneven strikes.
33 files, last one added on Jul 19, 2011 Album viewed 1 times
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Last additions - wileyc's Gallery |
France. Provincial. Cahors. Bishopric. Anonymous AR DenierObverse: ✠:ЄPISCOPVS:, three crosses; staurogram above central cross
Reverse: ✠CATVRCENSIS, cross patée, three pellets in upper left quadrant
Size: 14mm
Weight: .60 gram
Mint: Cahors
Roberts 4664wileycMar 19, 2024
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Obol - William X 1127-1137OBV: Four crosses; ✠ GLVILILMO translation -William
Rev: ✠ BVRDEGIILA; translation Bordeaux
Mint: Bordeaux
Date: 1127-1137
17mm, .63g
Obol
Roberts 4312; Boudeau 465
ex Allen Berman/2023
wileycMar 12, 2024
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Denaro Provisino (Roman senate mid 1100's)Obv: cross surrounded with SENATVS PQR
Rev: ROMACAPUTMVN Comb in middle, S above
Date: mid-late 1100's
Mint: Rome
15mm, .71g
Berman 94
ex Allen Berman
The billion/peace, silver deniers struck at Provins had been a common coin associated with the fairs of champagne and circulated widely through southern France and Italy. The comb on the coin represents the wool trade that flourished in that time. It is also considered a pun on the name of the region as Champagne, Champ (field) and peigne (comb).
In the 1100s, the pope spent much less time in Rome. Having moved the papacy up to Avignon in France. With the decreased pilgrimage, traffic in Rome, Roman senate started minting coins issued with the wool comb and cross design. Generally, these are poorly struck coins. Difficult to read the entire inscription. One of the significant differences is that the original coins struck in Provins I have a V above the comb where the coins from Rome have a S.
excerpt from Ancient Medieval coins; Power struggle (2023) Allen Berman wileycMar 05, 2024
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Philip II denier TournoisObv+ PHILLIPVS RE. Cross in center.
Rev:+ SCS MARTINVS. Chatel Tournois in center
Mint:Tours
Date:1206-1223
19mm, .89g
Roberts 2402
wileycMar 04, 2024
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Thiibaut II OBV: +TEBALT COMES (Count Thibaut )
Cross with Alpha/Omega in 1 and 3 , pellets in 2 and 4 corners
Rev; CASTRI PRVVINS (Shateau de Provins)
Comb, with above a V joined by two ringlets
Mint: Provins
Date: 1125-1152
21mm; 1.06
R4726, PA.5971
The wool comb on the reverse references the main industry of Provins. Its place on this coin is considered a play on the name of the region (Champagne) with the field (champ) and comb, a wool comb (peigne). They were common coins in the 12th/13th cen, and circulated widely with thier associated use in the trade fairs held in the Champagne region. As a result of the trade fairs they circulated widely through southern france and Italy. Subsequently being copied by the roman mint because it was such a established type. The copies by the Roman senate however replaced the inscription with the phrase SENATUS PQR and were much more poorly struck. wileycFeb 16, 2024
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French feudal denier Bishops of ValenceObv: winged creature, ✠ VRBS VΛLЄNTIΛI/city of Valence
Rev:Cross finishing in pellets with an annulet in fourth quarter.
✠ S ΛP✜LLINΛRS/ Saint Apollinars
Mint: Valence
Date: 13c
Roberts 4782, Boudeau 1021
Ex CNG 29/3/23 lot 863 eauction 535
Valence is in southern France along the Rhone river, The cathedral of Saint Apollinaire consecreated by Pope Urban II
in 1095 was a dominate presence in ancient times. Ruled by Bishops since the 3/4c the silver deniers of Valence were isssued by them and widely carried by the Crusaders to fund the varied holy wars through the Mideast.
The obverse shows a stylised angel with spread wings resembling an eagle with the legend around VRBS VALENTIAI (Ville de Valence). The reverse shows a cross with an annulet in one quarter with the legend S APOLLINARS (Saint Apollinaire).wileycJan 15, 2024
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Hugh V Duke of BurgundyObv: In the field, word DVX between two lines, above a double crozier.
Lettering: ☩ VGO BVRGVNDIE, Hugh, duke of Burgundy
Rev:Cross with clovers in second and third quarters.
lettering: AVSONIENSIS [Denier] of Auxonne
Mint:Auxonne
date: 1305-1315
15mm, 1.02g
Roberts 5783
ex CNG auction 535, lot 863
wileycJan 12, 2024
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County of Maine. Herbert I, BI denierMonogram of Herbert.
Obv; ✠ COMES CENOMANNIS, Translation: Herbert count of Le Mans.
Rev: Cross with alpha and omega hanging. ✠ SIGNVM DEI VIVI
Translation: The symbol of the incarnate God.
Mint: Le Mans, France
1015-1036
15mm, .91g
Poey d'Avant 1548; Roberts 4121/22
ex CNG e auction 535 lot 863 29/3/23
denarii bearing the monogram of Herbert I (Count of Maine from 1015 to 1036), were minted in various variants until 1246.
wileycJan 08, 2024
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Cahors, Annonymous Bishops 12th-13th c
Obv: ✠:ЄPISCOPVS:, three crosses; Crozier above central cross
Rev: ✠CATVRCENSIS, cross patée, three pellets in upper left quadrant
Mint: Cahors
Date-1204-1234 attributed to Guillaume de Cardaillac
17mm, .81g
Roberts 4664, PdA 3907.
ex CNG 3/29/23wileycJan 07, 2024
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Angouleme time of Guillaume V-Huges I, AR denierAR denier
Obv:+ LODOICVS (S horizontal), cross pattée.
Rev.: + EGOLISSIME (Ss horizontal), cross, three arms ending in circles, fourth ending in crescent
Mint: La Marche
Date: 1170-1245
18mm, .82g
R 4361, PDA, 2663, Duplessy
ex cng 29/3/23
wileycJan 07, 2024
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4 Solidus weightLarge N and delta(4)
octogan, 18mm
wileycDec 19, 2023
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Two Nomisma weightLarge NB surrounded by wreath
8.49g
15 by 15 by 3mm
Hendin 346wileycDec 19, 2023
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Random files - wileyc's Gallery |
AE Decanummium Maurice Tiberius, SB 580Obverse: DN MAY CN P AY( or similar) Bust facing, wearing crown with trefoil ornament and consular robes, in r. hand, mappa; in l., eagle tipped sceptre.
Reverse: Large I between ANNP and regnal year (X, u), cross above THEUP in ex
Mint: Theoupolis (Antioch)
Date: 597/8 CE
Sear 537 DO 203-12
17mm 2.68gmwileyc
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AE half follis Justin I SB 104Obverse: DNIVSTINVS PP AVG Diad., dr. and cuir but r. sometimes with cross above head.
Reverse: Large K; to L., long cross dividing AN above and TX below: to r. officina letter B
Mint: Antioch
Date: 518-527 CE
Sear 104, DO 50
23mm 6.86 gmwileyc
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Late Roman-Byzantine Spherical Barrel weightengraved with central indention
1 Sicilius
8mm dia/8mm tall, 5.79g
(Hendin, 337)wileyc
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