I purchased this coin at
auction as a
John II Tetarteron S-1945, I disagree with its
attribution, I see it as an Alexius
Sear -1933 however, the coin has several interesting aspects to it ,regardless of it being either coin it is very off
weight. The
John II coin is rarely off
weight , more around 3.5 to 4.5gm , this coin has a very strange
flan and it cuts off the most important tell tale sign of the difference between the two coins, The emperor holds a
labarum on the Alexius version but the
John II coin he holds a
scepter cruciger. The
style and
legend are my reasons from reattributing the coin. Its condition is
very Fine regardless of the off strike.
If I am correct I will hold examples of this coin from 1g 2.7gm, 3.1gm and 4.9gm. I have also seen but do not own an example that was 5.44.gm .Regional coin issues of especially Alexius seem to vary, I am really starting to believe these coins were not a fixed
denomination but based on
weight.
1933 ALEXIUS
TETARTERON S-1933
DOC43 CLBC 2.4.9
OBV Full Length figure of
Christ bearded and
nimbate wearing tunic and
kolobion; holds Gospels in l. hand.
REV Full length figure of Emperor wearing
stemma,
divitision, and wearing jeweled
loros of simplified
type;( holds in r hand
labarum on long shaft) and in l. gl.cr.
Size 22.00
Weight 1.25gm
This coin and S-1934 I believe were minted in
Cyprus, these coins were once very
rare but recently they have been hitting the market much more frequently. Most of these offerings are coming from
Cyprus dealers.
DOC Lists 1 example not in their
collection.
Weight 2.44gm and size 18mm
