FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Numismatic and History Discussion Forums => Byzantine Coins Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Skolot on May 26, 2021, 05:48:55 am

Title: Please help to identify a silver trachy
Post by: Skolot on May 26, 2021, 05:48:55 am

Hello. Please help me to identify this trachy.
Silver, 2.73 gr, 22 mm.
Looks like John III, but I did not find this type in silver.

Title: Re: Please help to identify a silver trachy
Post by: Obryzum on May 27, 2021, 11:04:40 pm

I am away from my references, and I do not recall from memory if this type was issued in billon.  If it was, this may be a silver-plated billon coin.  The easiest way to tell would be to grind a point on the edge on a testing stone.  If you see fresh copper on the inside, then you will know that the coin is not silver after all. 

This was an issue a few years back with some mysterious "silver" billon aspron trachy coins of Isaac II that turned out to be ordinary issues with thick silver plating. 

Title: Re: Please help to identify a silver trachy
Post by: Skolot on May 28, 2021, 08:50:38 am

I tried, there is white metal (silver? billon? electrum?)
It looks like Sear 2073 but it must be golden according to catalogue.
I have found these two examples on the internet. Were Sear 2073 hyperpyrons also struck in silver? Or is it a different type? Or a kind of fourree?