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Silver copy of hyperpyron SBCV 2073 of John III Vatatzes.

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glebe:
Here is another modern copy of the John III hyperpyron SBCV 2073, this time in silver. Note the incorrect upright reverse as found on all the modern gold versions of this type, and on the first tranche of modern copper copies.

The obverse and reverse dies here are both known from the copper copies of this type, and in fact the obverse is Bendall’s Type A die from the so-called Kosovo hoard of copper copies, which was also used to strike copies in gold.

Ross G.

glebe:
Here are gold and copper versions of the Type A obverse die.

Note that the copper versions are from both the first and second tranches* of these types, and that with the second tranche the reverse is inverted, as it should be.

The second tranche types are what Bendall was dealing with in his article on the Kosovo hoard, and these are the types that are appearing on the market at present, with a brassy fake gold coating.

Ross G.

* P.S.  Although there were two separate tranches of copper copies, one with the reverses upright and one with them inverted, it's not entirely clear which was produced first.

Obryzum:
What a strange mystery: Who? When? How many of these things have they sold?  How much did they rake in?

Obryzum:
Hey Ross, what do you think of this die match?  One base metal, and the other gold.  Similar flan shape.

glebe:
The first coin is basically brass, not gold - note the relatively low weight for a full size flan. The second is clearly not gold, base or otherwise. Sellers offering these types as "base gold" should be required to include an alloy analysis.

And yes, reverse die matches are common with these types.


Ross G.

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