Indice Dietro Avanti
Anastasius I and Victoria Augustorum
9.12.2011

Mr Giulio,
I possess one golden coin from Ancient Rome (tremis). Can you make the evaluation of this coin? The weight is 1,46 grams, diameter is 7 mm and 22 K gold.
Saluti.
Plate 1
Click on the images to enlarge
Roma, 14.12.2011
Dear Reader,
here are the elements I could gather on the coin above

AV Tremissis1, DOC I 10

Summary description:
D. D N ANASTA - SIVS P P AV Anastasius I2, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R. VICTORIA AVGOSTORVM Victory walking right, head turned back, holding cross on globe and wreath; to right, star3. Mint sign CONOB4.

Searching in the web I have found the following coins of the same type:

Zecca di Costantinopoli, 498-518 d. C.:
  1. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=3246 Source Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH Auction 79 (17.11.2006) Lot 2660  ( «  |  » ) Price 800 EUR (~1026 USD) Description (Translate description)Völkerwanderung OSTGOTEN Theoderich 490-526 Tremissis (1,45 g), Ravenna nach 493. Av.: DN ANASTASIVS PF AVG, diademierte drapierte u. gepanzerte Büste rechts. Rv.: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Viktoria steht frontal, hält Kranz u. Kreuz, rechts Stern. Metlich:17 (dieses Stück abgebildet): Schürfkratzer RR s.sch. Estimate: EUR 500.
  2. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=46364 Source Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH Summer Auction 2007 (11.09.2007) Lot 1277  ( «  |  » ) Price 100 EUR (~138 USD) Description (Translate description) Byzantinisches Reich Anastasius I.-491-518 Tremissis (AV, 1,49 g), Konstantinopel . Av.: DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG, Portrait n.r. Rv.: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / CONOB (in ex.), Victoria mit Kranz und Kreuzglobus n.r., Kopf n.l., im r. Feld Stern. Sear 8, MIBE 12, Ratto 327-330: kl. Kratzer, Schrötling leicht gewellt. s.sch.-vzgl./f.vzgl. Estimate: EUR 100.
  3. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=150515 Source Leu Numismatik AG Auction 86 (05.05.2003) Lot 1071  ( «  |  » ) Price 975 CHF (~730 USD) Description The Later Roman Empire, Byzantium and the Successor States in the West Theoderic, King of the Ostrogoths, 493-526 Estimate: CHF 650.00  Tremissis (Gold, 1.47 g 7), Rome, stuck in the name of Anastasius I before 518. DN ANASTASIVS P F AVG Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM / COMOB Victory walking right, head turned back, holding cross on globe and wreath; to right, star. BMCV 11. Kent 11. Lacam 264. MEC 114. MIB 10. Extremely fine. From the collections of the Johns Hopkins University and J.W. Garrett, Bank Leu / Numismatic Fine Arts, 16 October 1984, 493, purchased from W. Raymond in 1923.
  4. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=191048 Source A. Tkalec AG Auction February 2002 (18.02.2002) Lot 290  ( «  |  » ) Price 705 CHF (~415 USD) Description (Translate description) BYZANZ ANASTASIVS No.: 290 Rufpreis-Opening bid: CHF 700.- Münzstätte Constantinopolis, wenn nicht anders angegeben. ANASTASIVS 491 - 518 AV - Tremissis 1,49g 492 -507 Av: DN ANASTA-SIVS P P AVG; Diademierte Büste mit Paludamentum über Küraß nach rechts. Rv: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM// CONOB; Victoria frontal schreitend, Kopf nach links, hält Kranz und Kreuzglobus. Im Feld rechts: Stern. MIB 12. DOC 10a. FDC.
  5. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=238592 Source Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Price 265 USD Description 730654. Sold For $265 ANASTASIUS I. 491-518 AD. AV Gold Tremissis (1.49 gm). Constantinople mint. D N ANASTASIVS PP AVG, diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory walking right, head left, holding globus cruciger and wreath; */CONOB. DOC I 10a; MIB 12; SB 8. EF. $265.
  6. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/anastasius/sb0008.jpg 1432 ANASTASIUS I. 491-518  AD. AV Tremissis (1.46  gm). Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right / Victory walking right, head left, holding globus cruciger and  wreath; */CONOB. DOC I  10a; MIB 12; SB  8. VF, light reverse scratch. ($150) CNG Mail bid sale #58, 18 Sept 2001, lot 1432. Lot sold for $193.
  7. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-40631 Anastasius. 491 – 518 A.D. Constantinople mint. Gold tremissis, 1.454g, 14.6mm, 180o, light graffiti, EF. Obv: pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; D N ANASTA-SIVS P P AVG. Rev: Victory advancing right, head left, wreath in right, globus cruciger in left, star right, VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM. CONOB in ex. Ref: SBCV 8, DOC I 10, BMC 10 – 15.
  8. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?zpg=25913 SH81681. Gold tremissis, SBCV 8, DOC I 10, BMC 10 - 15, gVF, damaged die & flip strike, Constantinople mint, weight 1.502g, maximum diameter 16.5mm, die axis 180o, obverse D N ANASTA-SIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing right, head left, wreath in right, globus cruciger in left, star right, CONOB in ex; SOLD.
  9. http://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/50/185 185 Impero Bizantino.Anastasio I (491-518). Tremisse, Costantinopoli. D/ DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG. Busto diademato, drappeggiato e corazzato a destra. R/ VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM. Vittoria avanza a destra, con il capo rivolto a sinistra, tenendo corona e globo crucigero. A destra, stella. In esergo: CONOB. D.O.10. Sear 8. AU. g. 1.46 mm. 15.00SPL. Base d'asta: € 125 Numero offerte: 4. Email: info@artemideaste.com Tel. 0549 908845 - int. +378 0549 908845 | Fax: 0549 972142 - int. +378 0549 972142 Prezzo realizzato: € 575.
  10. http://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/50/186 186 Impero Bizantino. Anastasio I (491-518). Tremisse, Costantinopoli. D/ DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG. Busto diademato, drappeggiato e corazzato a destra. R/ VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM. Vittoria avanza a destra, con il capo rivolto a sinistra, tenendo corona e globo crucigero. A destra, stella. In esergo: CONOB. D.O.10. Sear 8. AU. g. 1.56 mm. 15.00 SPL/qSPL.
  11. http://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/57/568 568 Impero Bizantino. Anastasio I (491-518). Tremisse, Costantinopoli. D/ DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG. Busto diademato, drappeggiato e corazzato a destra. R/ VICTORIA AVGVSTORV. Vittoria avanza a destra con il capo a sinistra, tenendo corona e globo crucigero. A destra, stella. In esergo: CONOB. D.O.10. Sear 8. AU. g. 1.50 mm. 15.50 Minima ondulazione del tondello. Fondi a specchio. SPL. Base d'asta: € 120 Numero offerte: 9. Email: info@artemideaste.com Tel. 0549 908845 - int. +378 0549 908845 | Fax: 0549 972142 - int. +378 0549 972142.
  12. http://www.deamoneta.com/en/auctions/view/44/191 191 Impero Bizantino. Anastasio I (491-518). Tremisse, Costantinopoli. D/ DN ANASTASIVS PP AVG. Busto diademato, drappeggiato e corazzato a destra. R/ VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM. La Vittoria avanza a destra con il capo rivolto a sinistra tenendo corona e globo crucigero. A destra, stella. In esergo: CONOB. D.O. 10. AU. g. 1.46 mm. 15.00 SPL. Di qualità eccellente. Fondi lucenti. Base price: € 300 Email: info@artemideaste.com Tel. 0549 908845 - int. +378 0549 908845 | Fax: 0549 972142 - int. +378 0549 972142.
  13. http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v31/gb/monnaiesgb5cdf.html ANASTASIUS(11/04/491-1/07/518) Tremissis - 491-518 N° v31_0704 Mint name : Constantinople Diameter in mm : 14 mm  Die axis : 7 h. Metal : or Actual weight : 1,49 g. Legal weight : 1,50 g. Pieces to the mark : 1/216 L. Fineness per thousand : 1000°/oo Current for: 2.400 noummia Rarity level : R Condition : SPL Starting Price : 175.00 € (around 236.25 USD) Estimate : 250.00 € (around 337.50 USD) OBVERSE Legend : D N ANASTA-SIVS PP AVG. Translation : (Notre Seigneur Anastase Perpétuel Auguste). Description : Buste diadémé, drapé et cuirassé d'Anastase à droite, vu de trois quarts en avant (A’a) ; diadème perlé. REVERSE Legend : VICTORIA AVGVSTORVH// CONOB. Translation : (Victoire des Augustes). Description : Victoire marchant à droite, tenant une couronne de la main droite et un globe crucigère de la main gauche ; une étoile à huit rais dans le champ à droite. Reference number in specialised litterature : BMC/B.10 - R.327 - Do.10 - BN/B.23 - BC.8 (120£) Description of the condition of the coin : Exemplaire de qualité exceptionnelle, parfaitement centré des deux côtés. Très beau portrait. A conservé son brillant de frappe. About this type : Numismatiquement, le règne se divise en deux parties bien distinctes : avant et après la réforme monétaire de 498. Cette réforme ne porte pas sur l'or, mais sur l'argent et surtout le bronze. Le solidus est dorénavant taillé au1/72e de livre (4,51 g). Avant 498, nous trouvions au revers une longue croix ornée. Après la réforme, cette croix devient un chrisme. Avant la réforme, seules les pièces d'or étaient fabriquées : solidus, semissis (demi sou), tremissis (tiers de sou). Anastase recrée un véritable système monétaire. Le solidus vaut 7.200 nummi de bronze. La nouvelle grande monnaie de bronze, à l'image du sesterce romain du Haut-Empire, s'appelle le follis. Un solidus de 4,50 g vaut 180 folles de 18,00 g environ. Le follis de bronze avec la marque grecque M vaut 40 nummi. Le solidus vaut aussi 24 siliques d'argent ou 12 miliarense. History : Après l'assassinat de Zénon, Anastase épousa Ariadne qui le choisit comme empereur. Son très long règne, vingt-sept ans, permit de restaurer le pouvoir impérial. Il mourut sans héritier mais est aujourd'hui considéré comme le fondateur de l'empire byzantin.
  14. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/143/10974p00.jpg/ ANASTASIUS M.S. 491 - 518 ALTIN TREMISSIS CONSTANTINOPLE 1.4 GR 15.5 MM.
  15. http://www.moneymuseum.com/moneymuseum/library/coins/coin.jsp?lang=en&aid=3&ix=1&i=7 Denomination: Tremissis (1/3 Solidus) Mint Authority: Emperor Anastasius Mint: Constantinople Year of Issue: 491 Weight (g): 1.5 Diameter (mm): 14.300000190734863 Material: Gold Owner: Deutsche Bundesbank. Although Rome had in fact been divided into an eastern and a western empire for nearly a century at the time of Anastasius' accession to the throne, the period of his reign is generally regarded as the initial phase of the evolution of the Byzantine Empire as an autonomous entity. In terms of its political consciousness and sense of identity, however, Byzantium perceived itself as part of a continuum, i.e. as the Roman Empire per se. Of the many organizational reforms Anastasius attempted, his reform of the coinage system lasted longest. It reintroduced a finely differentiated range of small denominations struck in copper. The third-solidus, known as triens or tremissis, remained the most prevalent gold denomination. The image of Victoria that had appeared on Roman coins for centuries, was retained as the characteristic design on the reverse of the Byzantine tremissis.
  16. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?zpg=18222 Home Catalog > Roman Coins > The Late Empire > Anastasius I > SH19041 Anastasius, 11 April 491 - 1 July 518 A.D. SH19041. Gold tremissis, SBCV 8, DOC I 10, aEF, scratches, wavy, Constantinople mint, weight 1.494g, maximum diameter 15.7mm, die axis 180o, obverse D N ANASTA-SIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVCVSTORVM CONOB, Victory advancing right, head left, holds wreath and globus cruciger, star right; superb strike; SOLD.
  17. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/catalog/roman-and-greek-coins.asp?zpg=35899 Home > Catalog > Roman Coins > The Late Empire > Anastasius I > SH30389 Anastasius, 11 April 491 - 1 July 518 A.D. SH30389. Gold tremissis, SBCV 8, DOC I 10, BMC 10 - 15, EF, Constantinople mint, weight 1.454g, maximum diameter 14.6mm, die axis 180o, obverse D N ANASTA-SIVS P P AVG, pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM, Victory advancing right, head left, wreath in right, globus cruciger in left, star right, CONOB in ex; obverse light graffiti; SOLD.
  18. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=411611 Source Martí Hervera & Soler y Llach Auction Subasta 60 (06.07.2010) Lot 332  ( «  |  » ) Price 220 EUR (~276 USD) Description (Translate description) Tremisis. 491-518 d.C. ANASTASIO I. CONSTANTINOPLA. Anv.: D. N. ANASTASIVS P. P. AVG. Busto a derecha, con coraza y diadema. Rev.: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM CONOB. Victoria en marcha a derecha, cabeza vuelta, con corona y globo crucífero. AU. S-5. EBC.
  19. http://www.byzantinecoins.com/10994.html (imitative gold coin) Denomination Tremissis Minted At Constantinople Reference Information W1, S-8, DOC-10a, Berk-34, MIB-12, R-765, BMC-10, BN-11 Weight in Grams 1.54g Diameter 15.0 mm Die Axis 180° Accepted Striking Period 492-518 Officinae NA Obverse Image Image of Anastasius I facing right, diademed, draped and cuirassed Obverse Legend DNANASTA-SIVSPPAVG22 Reverse Image Victory holding wreath on left and globus with cross on right, star in right field Reverse Legend VICTORIAAVGSTORVH, CONOB in exergue (This particular specimen replaces the 'M' with an 'H', not very uncommon) Die Quality Superb, polished Strike Almost complete, with slight weakness at top of reverse legend Flan Quality Excellant, 100% centered Wear None Overall Condition Rating Mint State (FDC) This Coin's Uniqueness A few small stains on the reverse legends from 3 to 5 o'clock Desirability Medium Rarity Common (More than 250 known) Provenance Purchased from Artkeepers - June 2000 1999 Approximate Value (US $) $450 - $600 Inventory # 10994-AKR0V0F0K6K.
Zecca di Milano, Teodorico I, 491-501 d. C.:
  1. http://numismatics.org/collection/1947.3.128 Obverse Legend: D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG Obverse Type: Bust diademed dr. r. Reverse Legend: VICTORIA AVGVSTORVM Reverse Type: Victory adv. r. looking l. holding gl. cr. in l. and wreath in r.; in field r., star AE Tremissis, Milan, AD 492-AD 518. 1947.3.128 Axis: 6 Denomination: tremissis Manufacture: ST Material: AE Measurements: 14.5 mm Symbol: \:COMOB Weight: 1.47 grams.
  2. http://www.britishmuseum.org/collectionimages/AN00874/AN00874571_001_l.jpg Minted in Milan. Date 491-501. Authority Ruler Anastasius I. Issuer Theodoric I, King of the Ostrogoths. State Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy. D N ANASTASIVS PP AVC/IVCTORIA AVGOSTORVM * -//CONOB Weight: 1.43 grammes Die-axis: 6 o'clock AN874571001 Registration number: 1904,0604.73  = 14mm.
  3. http://www.britishmuseum.org/collectionimages/AN00874/AN00874573_001_l.jpg Minted in Milan Date 491-501 Authority Ruler Anastasius I Issuer Theodoric I, King of the Ostrogoths State Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy D N ANASTASIVS PP AVC/VICTORIA AVGVSOROM * -//COИOB Weight: 1.42 grammes Die-axis: 6 o'clock AN874573001 Registration number: B.12300 = 16mm.
  4. http://www.britishmuseum.org/collectionimages/AN00874/AN00874572_001_l.jpg Minted in Milan Date 491-501 Authority Ruler Anastasius I Issuer Theodoric I, King of the Ostrogoths State Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy D N ANASTASIVS PP AVC/VICTORIA AVGVSORON * -//CONOB Weight: 1.44 grammes Die-axis: 6 o'clock AN874572001 Registration number: B.12299 = 14mm.
  5. http://www.britishmuseum.org/collectionimages/AN00874/AN00874572_001_l.jpg Minted in Milan Date 491-501 Authority Ruler Anastasius I Issuer Theodoric I, King of the Ostrogoths State Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy D N ANASTASIVS PP AVC/VICTORIA AVIVSTOROM * -//CONOB Weight: 1.45 grammes Die-axis: 6 o'clock AN874574001 Registration number: B.12301 = 15mm.
Let's come to conclusions. For the evaluation of authenticity I have examined three aspects of the coin, two subjective, the overall look and style, and one objective, the physical characteristics. The image I could use for the study lacks in the detail necessary to allow a thorough examination and a serious comparison with the genuine coins of the period. Within these limits, no substantial remark concerning the overall look and style seems to emerge. As for the physical characteristics, I observe that the weight is normal, but not the diameter that is a half of what one would expect from a tremissis. With a diameter reduced by a half but with a normal weight, the thickness of the flan should be four times larger than one usually observes in the normal tremisses. In addition, only using reduced dies one could possibly obtain full obverse and reverse images like the ones in plate 1. But the hypothesis of the use of reduced dies, besides not being supported by any factual finding, defies any economic logic, as the weight and the amount of gold used to produce the coin, is fully within the average. In the light of this, and having received confirmation about the coin size ("Mr. Giulio, I and you can be a hundred per cent sure that diameter is 7mm"), I think that, even within the limits of a  remote evaluation, the coin cannot be authentic.

Best regards.
Giulio De Florio

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Notes:

(1) In the table below I summarize the physical characteristics of the tremisses in the above lists:

Constantinople mint
Links Weight
(g) 		 Coin axis
(h)		 Diameter
(mm)
Link01 1,45 - -
Link02 1,49 - -
Link03 1,47 7 -
Link04 1,49 - .
Link05 1,49 - -
Link06 1,46 - -
Link07 1,454 6 14,6
Link08 1,502 6 16,5
Link09 1,46 - -
Link10 1,56 - -
Link11 1,50 - 15,50
Link12 1,46 - 15
Link13 1,49 7 14
Link14 1,40 - 15,5
Link15 1,50 - 14,3
Link16 1,494 6 15,7
Link17 1,454 6 14,6
Milan mint
Link1 1,47 6 14,5
Link2 1,43 6 14
Link3 1,42 6 16
Link4 1,44 6 14
Link17 1,45 6 15
The table shows that, while the weight (1.46 g) and the coin axis (6h) of the coin under consideration are within the average, the diameter (7mm) is at least a half of what one would expect.
(2) Dominus Noster ANASTASIVS PerPetuus AVGustus. I draw from the DEI (Diz. Encicl.Italiano) the following biographical profile of the Emperor Anastasius I: Born in Durazzo in 430 (o 431 A. D.), he died perhaps in Constantinople in 518. Modest court official, at the death of Zeno the Isaurian in 491, he married his widow Ariadne. He was crowned despite the hostility of the patriarch Eufemius who suspected him of Monophysitism (fifth century heresy, that denied the double nature, human and divine, of Christ and claimed that he'd rather have only the divine one - v. http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monofisismo). In this regard, Anastasius promised to respect the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon. The rebellion of the Isaurian (Anatolian Romanized population) leaders resulted in a war that lasted five years and ended with a mass deportation of the Isaurians (v. http://web.tiscalinet.it/helpscuola/86.html. He faced the raids of the Slavs (from 493) and Bulgarians (499) ordering the construction (507) of the "long wall" in Constantinople and on 502 the ones of Persians. He approved the government of Theodoric (498) in Italy and later the one of Clodoveus, who recognized his high authority. He reformed the financial administration and, despite tax reliefs, accumulated a large treasure. He abolished the orgiastic feasts and wild beasts fights in the hippodrome. In the last years, favoring the Monophysites, he provoked riots and the rebellion of General Vitaliano, who was finally defeated after whirligigs in 516 (v. http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anastasio_I).
(3) At the time of the Emperor Anastasius I in 491, the following denominations survived of the late Roman coinage: the golden solidus (v. link) and its two fractions, the semissis (v. link) and the tremissis (v. link),0 besides a small copper coin called nummus (v. link), that in the middle of the fifth century was worth 1 / 7200 of solid and weighed less than 1 g. The reform of Anastasius (498) introduced a 40 Nummi denomination (v. link), recognizable by the letter M (the Greek letter M stands for 40) on the reverse, a 20 nummi denomination, recognizable by the letter K (v. link), called semifollis, a 10 nummi denomination, recognizable by the letter I (decanummius - v. link) and a 5 nummi denomination (v. link), recognizable by the letter E. Follis remained a constant for the next six centuries of Byzantine coinage. [News from an article by Philip Grierson, titled "BYZANTINO Coinage", partly published by the site http://www.doaks.org/publications/doaks_online_publications/byzcoins.pdf].
(4) CONOB is the mint sign of Constantinople, formed by "CON" (which stands for CONstantinopolis) and "OB" (OB, from Greek όβρυζος=of pure gold), which indicates a high gold content in the alloy. That being stated, I observe that coins with CONOB sign were emitted by Italian mints as well, particularly by Milan, at the time (491-501 d. C.) under the control of the Ostrogothic King Theodoric I who did not strike coins under his name but in the name of Anastasius, recognizing his formal authority. It is not simple to make out coins emitted by Constantinople and by Milan, yet, as it is evident from the coins above referred (see link), Milan tremisses often have legends not within the standards of pure Latin, especially the reverse legends. That means it is not possible to exclude that even the coin under exam, because of that AVGOSTOROM in place of AVGVSTORVM and D N ANASTA SIVS P P AV in place of D N ANASTA SIVS P P AVG was stricken by Milan.
Indice Dietro Avanti