FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Byzantine Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Paul B4 on September 08, 2021, 09:02:23 pm

Title: Help with markings on a Justin I
Post by: Paul B4 on September 08, 2021, 09:02:23 pm

Do you know know the meaning of the 2 stars on the reverse?
It looks like an officina mark below the M.  What is the mark and what does it mean?
13.25g, 28.6mm
BCV 83

Title: Re: Help with markings on a Justin I
Post by: Paul B4 on September 08, 2021, 09:03:20 pm

Here's the coin.

Title: Re: Help with markings on a Justin I
Post by: Obryzum on September 08, 2021, 09:29:55 pm

Below the M is the officina mark  :A3: -- which is just a fancy way of writing  :Greek_Alpha:

Nobody really knows for certain what these mean.  Some have suggested that they designate different "workshops" within the mint. 

Title: Re: Help with markings on a Justin I
Post by: SC on September 09, 2021, 07:53:09 am

They were likely issue marks - like the different letters and symbols found in the fields of late Roman (4th century) coins.  Not meant to be understood by the public but allowed mint and state accounting and control.

SC

Title: Re: Help with markings on a Justin I
Post by: vercingetorix on October 30, 2021, 04:26:15 pm

 :A3: is Greek numeral 1 and refers to the first officina (workshop) in the mint of Constantinope, which had five workshops, marked on coinage  :A3:  :Greek_Beta:  :Greek_Gamma:  :Greek_Delta:  :Greek_epsilon:
The stars are what numismatists call "privy marks" used by mint officials to distinguish between different series. W. Hahn has used these to date the coinage more precisely (Moneta Imperii Byzantini reference catalogue). On the coinage of Justin I and Justinian I we see most commonly a combination of stars and crosses on the reverse.