I am getting closer to my goal of completing the 12th century of all
denominations from
Alexius I post reform to
Alexius III.
It is a
rare coin because it was one of the
first coins of the new
denomination Alexius I Comnenus created.
Electrum Aspron Trachy. I always figured the coins of Alexius were rarer because the following rulers recycled them. The
Electrum trachea (Mix of gold a silver) of
Alexius I started at 7 carats,
his son
John II down to 5 carats and Manuel around the same at 5 carats, As the century continued the gold content dropped to 2.5 carats and ending at
Alexius III down to very little or no gold at all. You can see this visually in many examples of the
denomination from a very gold coin to a very silvery coin.
The coin was the second highest
denomination, 3 of these were equal to a
Hyperpyron.
My example was graded as
choice Fine with a
flan crack, It weighs 4.3gm and 30.07 mm It also has full legends.
SBCV-1915