Author Topic: ISAAC COMNENUS OF CYPRUS Coin Collector? (Read 5362 times)

Simon · « **on:** April 04, 2015, 06:57:04 pm »

When I notice how elaborate the coinage of Isaac was and how many different coins he produced for a short reign and a small empire. He created 18 different coins for a 13 year reign. It would seem he took more attention to his coins than most of his contemporary's, I wonder if he was a coin collector himself.

Bellow is a bargain coin I got the rev( Not Shown) is only VG. But the obv has a very interesting details, almost a complex abstract. Christ's head appears smaller than norm and the legend is missing but the other aspects show complex style. My other example is also included for point of view. S-1998

Chrismon · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2015, 01:35:19 pm »

Interesting idea, perhaps he was a coin collector. As a usurper, minting coins with his image would also lend a certain amount of legitimacy to his reign, so maybe the large variety of coins served as legitimizing propaganda for what was essentially a usurper. Perhaps it can be called a Medieval Cypriot 'publicity stunt', only with coins

Chrismon · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2015, 03:38:50 pm »

Or perhaps better than publicity stunt, maybe a form of Byzantine PR

Simon · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2015, 09:37:43 am »

I have been reading Hendys 1969 book that makes mention the old copper mines were still in use on Cyprus during this time. I just find it unusual because he has 9 different tetartera alone ( All listed in CLBC). Now Hendy ( 1969) classifies several coins as uncertain between Isaac II Angelus however they are reattributed with more certainty by the time he writes Vol IV of DOC.

His types are unusual and in most cases unique. I agree it reaffirmed his power, maybe even seem like a bigger empire but he might have been someone who just liked coins.

Chrismon · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2015, 10:10:52 am »

Agreed, it is interesting that there are so many different types for a usurper of a relatively short reign, and more interesting is that stylistically there are several differences between Isaac of Cyprus' coins and those of the 'mainstream' empire. Moreover, it may have also been a way of letting everyone on the island know that there was, so to speak, a new sheriff in town, an effective way of letting his subjects know that there was a new administration. It may well be that he also liked coins; would be interesting to know if he personally played a role in choosing the various designs.

Simon · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2015, 08:38:05 pm »

I just added a new example to my collection, its design is slightly different and the legend differs as well. It looks very similar to one that recently sold at CNG auction.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-120756

Here is the image darkened for detail. However the image in my gallery is not enhanced.

Chrismon · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2015, 05:01:05 am »

Beautiful and interesting coin, Simon, thanks for sharing.

B*Numis · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2015, 02:39:51 pm »

simon !

quadrans · « **Reply #8 on:** May 18, 2015, 12:44:21 pm »

Quote from: Simon on May 12, 2015, 08:38:05 pm

I just added a new example to my collection, its design is slightly different and the legend differs as well. It looks very similar to one that recently sold at CNG auction.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-120756

Here is the image darkened for detail. However the image in my gallery is not enhanced.

I agree very nice coin

Congratulation

Q.

Simon · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2015, 02:25:53 pm »

Thank You for the compliments Gentlemen, tetartera are rarely as pretty as this.

Simon · « **Reply #10 on:** November 02, 2015, 11:52:58 pm »

I was experimenting with some coin cleaning fluid I got on ebay. I put the coin at the very top of the discussion and a couple of other coins I was experimenting with in it, and to be frank I forgot about them. I was out of town for about 10 days and the other coins the results were ehh but this coin after a little removing the yuck looks like a totally different coin.

I wanted to see more detail of this coin and yes I have stripped the patina I am amazed at the result. The reverse is better but it was badly struck but this obverse is amazing. Granted bright and shiny but the details are in full detail.

Again this is the coin from the beginning of the post , not the XF one.

Simon · « **Reply #11 on:** November 02, 2015, 11:56:02 pm »

Bigger photo.

Vladislav D · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2015, 10:23:15 pm »

Very nice coins Simon . Congratulation

I'm always wanted coins of Isaac of Cyprus , but they seldom appear on the market . And they are expensive . I have only two SB 1991 . Not in good condition , but got them really cheap

.
Regards ,
Vlad .

Simon · « **Reply #13 on:** November 30, 2015, 10:52:37 pm »

A New One, I could more than likely get a little more detail with some additional cleaning but I am goin to hold off. The real treasure here is not just the rare coin but a readable inscription 19.66mm and 2.2gm, . The coin is a bit nicer in hand.

Simon · « **Reply #14 on:** June 06, 2016, 12:00:28 am »

ISAAC COMNENUS OF CYPRUS AG TETARTERON S-1999 DOC 10B CLBC 6.3.7

OBV Christ Emmanuel, beardless and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion, seated upon throne with back; r hand raised in benediction holds scroll in l. Pellet in each limb of nimbus cross.

REV Full length figure of emperor on RIGHT. crowned by virgin nimbate on l.. Emperor wears stemma, divitision, collar piece, and jeweled loros of simplified type; holds in L hand scepter cruciger and in r. anexikakia. Virgin wears tunic and maphorion.

Size 18.72mm

Weight 2.9gm

This issues in Cyprus have a small amount of silver in them 1.5% make them more related to the Metropolitan issue of the empire.

DOC list 1 examples with a weight of 2.84 gm and sized at 19mm

This issue is considered to be very rare, 5/5 , Grierson considers it to be an error of S-1998 and not a new type and I must agree if you look at the legend it is reversed. still a wonderful piece to add to my collection.

Simon · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2020, 11:24:09 pm »

One more to add.

MikkaS · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2020, 03:25:57 am »

Hello!

Can you confirm me that is SB 1990?

Thank you

Simon · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2020, 01:08:58 pm »

No, i think you have an Issac II. If it was SBCV-1990 it would be gold and his attire is very different.

MikkaS · « **Reply #18 on:** February 29, 2020, 02:55:54 am »

It looks to be silver, not gold, indeed.

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Author Topic: ISAAC COMNENUS OF CYPRUS Coin Collector? (Read 5362 times)