Hi, all. I could use some
help with this unusual 12 nummi coin from
Caesarea Maritima. I think it is Phocas but the
obverse is somewhere between
DOC 105 (bearded, facing
bust, with crown and consular robes, no
inscription), and
DOC 106 (profile
bust, beardless, diademed, wearing
cuirass and
paludamentum, unintelligible
inscription). To me, it looks like he is wearing a crown and a beard, though the beard could be the result of corrosion on the coin or die wear. I searched the
Forum board with the terms Phocas
Alexandria, and came up with a number of very interesting discussions, including the fact that many 12 nummi coins of
Alexandria are found near
Caesarea, but so far nothing exactly like this one. Jane DeRose
Evans published a
catalog of coins from the Joint Expedition to
Caesarea M. that included a coin (2504) of similar size and
weight with a bearded profile
bust that she attributed to Phocas as
DOC 105
var. but there is no photo of the coin coin to compare with and no further description. Any ideas or opinions about the ID of this coin or the features I think I see would be much appreciated. I apologize for the confusing number of questions! Thanks, V-drome
BCC IC7
Byzantine Period -
Caesarea Maritima
Phocas 602-610CE. AE Dodecanummium
12 Nummi
Alexandria MintObv: VIIO... Unintelligible
inscription.
Bearded
bust right, wearing crown? and
consular robes?
Rev: I B Between,
cross.
14.5mm. 2.35gm.
Axis:300
Possible references:
DOC 105
var. (Profile
bust,
inscription, no steps)... or
DOC 106
var. SB 679
var. (Crowned?, bearded?)
(click for larger pic)
