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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Byzantine Coins| ▸ |Unofficial & Imitative||View Options:  |  |  |   

Unofficial and Imitative Byzantine Coins

Unofficial and imitative Byzantine coins include counterfeits as well as imitative types struck by the Vandals, Goths, Lombards, Sassanian Persians, Crusaders, Arabs, Bulgarians and other ancient and medieval cultures.

Crusaders, County of Edessa, Baldwin II, Second Reign, 1108 - 1118

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |County| |of| |Edessa,| |Baldwin| |II,| |Second| |Reign,| |1108| |-| |1118||follis|
Baldwin II was count of Edessa, 1100 - 1118, and king of Jerusalem, 1118 - 1131. He fought in the first crusade, including the capture of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. He was an incessant warrior under whom Latin domination in the East reached its greatest expanse, the crusaders controlled and took tolls on the most important trade routes, and the power of Crusaders reached its utmost height.
ME65324. Bronze follis, cf. Malloy CCS p. 241, 1b (Baldwin I, heavy series, letters in angles); Metcalf Crusades -, VF, nice desert patina, overstruck on polygonal clipped follis, weight 4.489 g, maximum diameter 26.8 mm, die axis 0o, Edessa (Urfa, Turkey) mint, 2nd reign, 1108 - 1118; obverse nimbate bust of Christ facing, holding book of Gospels, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flanking at neck; reverse thin cross, wedge in each angle, BΛΔN around with one letter at the end of each arm of the cross (a cruciform monogram); ex "The John Slocum Collection of Coins of the Crusades" Sotheby's Catalogue 1997, lot 170 (part of); unique(?); SOLD


Islamic, Umayyad, Arab Pseudo-Byzantine, Bilad al-Sham (Greater Syria), c. 642 - 646 A.D.

|Islamic|, |Islamic,| |Umayyad,| |Arab| |Pseudo-Byzantine,| |Bilad| |al-Sham| |(Greater| |Syria),| |c.| |642| |-| |646| |A.D.||fals|
Schulte wrote of Arab Pseudo-Byzantine types, "These imitations are characterised by generally blundered inscriptions, pseudo-mintmarks, officinae and dates probably without meaning. The iconography of the obverse imitates Byzantine types, however the Syrian engravers were not necessarily using as a mode the contemporary type produced by the imperial mints, but one of the type that was circulating at that time in Syria, eventually obverse and reverse from different models (e.g. the rare type with Phocas and Leontia). In other words they were not producing forgeries but local currency in the Byzantine style." This type appears to combine three different types identified by Schultz. The obverse legend is imitative of Phocas (Schulze type II.3). The obverse figures appear to be Heraclius and his son wearing chlamys (Schulze type II.2). The reverse is imitative of the Byzantine folles of Cyprus with Heraclius, Heraclius Constantine, and Martina in chlamys on the obverse, the regnal year XUII, officina Γ, and a blundered KYΠP pseudo-mintmark (Schulze type I.1a).
IS113996. Bronze fals, Unpublished in references examined, Schulze Pseudo-Byzantine - (see notes), Goodwin -, Foss DOC -, SICA I -, Album -, Walker BMC -, aVF, dark and earthen patina, weight 4.567 g, maximum diameter 25.2 mm, Syria, uncertain mint, c. 642 - 646 A.D.; obverse blundered Greek inscription copied from a follis of Focas!, Heraclius (on left) and Heraclius Constantine standing facing, both wear chlamys and crown with cross, each holding globus cruciger in right hand, cross above; reverse Large M (Byzantine follis mark of value), cross above, A/N/N - X/U/II (regnal year 17) in two columns flanking, Γ (3rd officina) below, VΠPC (blundered KYΠR Cyprus mintmark) in exergue; two specimens from the same dies known from auctions on Coin Archives; extremely rare; SOLD


Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class A3, Basil II & Constantine VIII, c. 1023 - 11 November 1028 A.D.

|Anonymous| |Folles|, |Byzantine| |Anonymous| |Follis| |of| |Christ,| |Class| |A3,| |Basil| |II| |&| |Constantine| |VIII,| |c.| |1023| |-| |11| |November| |1028| |A.D.||anonymous| |follis|
The extraordinarily crude, unusual and interesting style of this coin suggests it is unofficial; however, the style is typical for all specimens with Grierson-NumisWiki ornaments 29. The weight of specimens from the issue was well controlled at around 10 grams. The variety is likely official, but from a provincial mint, certainly not Constantinople.
BZ86495. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ class A3, Grierson-NumisWiki ornaments 29; DOC III-2 A2.29 (not in the collection, refs. Bellinger); SBCV 1818, EF, sharp detail, extraordinary and interesting crude style, tight flan, reverse off center, edge ragged, weight 10.472 g, maximum diameter 28.6 mm, die axis 180o, provincial (or unofficial?) mint, c. 1023 - 11 Nov 1028 A.D.; obverse + EMMANOVHΛ (romanized Hebrew - God is with us), facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each limb of cross, pallium, and colobium, Gospels in both hands, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) across field; reverse + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Greek: Jesus Christ King of Kings), ornamentation above and below inscription; SOLD


Sasanian Empire, Levantine Occupation, 610 - 629 A.D., Imitative of Heraclius with Heraclius Constantine

|Sasanian| |Empire|, |Sasanian| |Empire,| |Levantine| |Occupation,| |610| |-| |629| |A.D.,| |Imitative| |of| |Heraclius| |with| |Heraclius| |Constantine||follis|
In 604, Khusro II personnally led the siege of Dara, Mesopotamia. Because they resisted, the inhabitants were slaughtered and everything of value was carried off to Persia. This warning was somewhat sufficient; other cities including Antioch (610), Emesa (611), and Damascus (613) surrendered under terms and opened their gates. When Jerusalem was taken in May 614, tens of thousands were massacred and the True cross was taken. In 619 when Alexandria surrendered after a long siege, the young men and monks were massacred. Evidence suggests, however, that Persians allowed the local adminstrations to resume control of these cities after the initial slaughter and looting. This type was likely struck by civic authorities for local use in one of the Levantine cities during the Sasanian Occupation.
BZ65330. Bronze follis, Imitative of Heraclius with Heraclius Constantine; CNG e-auction 217, 460 (same obverse die); cf. Pottier p. 140, 4, pl. XVII, Pottier AA3-6, VF, nice desert patina, weight 11.641 g, maximum diameter 27.6 mm, die axis 315o, 610 - 629 A.D.; obverse two imperial figures standing facing in very crude style, each holding cruciform scepter in right, cross above center; reverse large M (40 nummi), cross above, A below, blundered legend and mintmark; unusual and rare; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Alexius I Comnenus, 4 April 1081 - 15 August 1118 A.D. Ancient Counterfeit

|Alexius| |I|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Alexius| |I| |Comnenus,| |4| |April| |1081| |-| |15| |August| |1118| |A.D.| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||histamenon| |nomisma|
A fouree is a counterfeit coin, struck with a base metal core that has been plated with a precious metal to look like its official precious metal counterpart. The term derived from a French word meaning "stuffed," is most applied to ancient silver plated coins such as Roman denarii and Greek drachms, but may be used to describe any plated coin.
BZ93553. Fouree electrum plated histamenon nomisma, cf. DOC IV-1 2a, Morrisson BnF 59/Cp/El/1, Hendy pl 1, 1-4, Ratto 2062, SBCV 1893, Sommer 59.2 (official, solid electrum, Constantinople mint), VF, scyphate, plating breaks, weight 4.326 g, maximum diameter 26.4 mm, die axis 180o, unofficial criminal mint, 1081 - 1095 A.D.; obverse Christ enthroned facing on square-backed throne, wearing nimbus cruciger, pallium, and colobium, raising right in benediction, gospels in left hand, double border, IC - XC (Greek abbreviation: Ihsoús Xristós - Jesus Christ) flanking throne; reverse AΛEIIW ΔECΠOT TW KM, half-length bust of Alexius facing wearing crown and jeweled chlamys, scepter in right hand, globus cruciger in left hand; from the Errett Bishop Collection; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Tiberius III Apsimar, Late 698 - Summer 705 A.D., Ancient Counterfeit

|Tiberius| |III|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Tiberius| |III| |Apsimar,| |Late| |698| |-| |Summer| |705| |A.D.,| |Ancient| |Counterfeit||semissis|
BZ42385. Fouree gold plated semissis, cf. SBCV 1362 (official, solid gold, Syracuse mint), VF, most plating intact, weight 1.974 g, maximum diameter 16.8 mm, die axis 0o, obverse d CBERA-TVS AV (sic), diademed and draped bust with body facing and head right; reverse VCTROIA - AVG (sic), cross potent on globus, A right; perhaps unique; SOLD


Islamic, Zangids of Aleppo, Syria, Nurettin Mahmud bin Zengi, 541 - 569 H, 1146 - 15 May 1174 A.D.

|Islamic|, |Islamic,| |Zangids| |of| |Aleppo,| |Syria,| |Nurettin| |Mahmud| |bin| |Zengi,| |541| |-| |569| |H,| |1146| |-| |15| |May| |1174| |A.D.||dirhem|
An interesting transitional issue derived from a Byzantine follis of Constantine X, struck at Constantinople, 1059 - 1067 (DOC III 8, SBCV 1853).
IS09094. Bronze dirhem, Spengler-Sayles 73, Album 1850, Mitchiner WOI 1132, Hennequin 603, VF, obv and rev off-center, weight 5.34 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 180o, Aleppo (Halab) mint, obverse two byzantine emperors facing, wearing long gown, holding together labarum, between them two line kufic legend, corrupted Greek legend on border; reverse nimbate Christ facing, wearing long gown, two lines kufic legend in field, corrupted Greek legend on border; SOLD


Ostrogoths, Athalaric, 31 August 526 - 2 October 534, In the Name of Byzantine Empire, Justinian I

|Germanic| |Tribes|, |Ostrogoths,| |Athalaric,| |31| |August| |526| |-| |2| |October| |534,| |In| |the| |Name| |of| |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Justinian| |I||AE| |4|
BZ40599. Bronze AE 4, Wroth BMCV p. 67, 52, gF, weight 1.048 g, maximum diameter 9.7 mm, die axis 180o, Ravenna mint, obverse JVST-INIANII (blundered), diademed and cuirassed bust of Justinian I right; reverse monogram of Athalaric in wreath; SOLD


Sasanian Empire, Levantine Occupation, 610 - 629 A.D., Imitative of Constans II

|Sasanian| |Empire|, |Sasanian| |Empire,| |Levantine| |Occupation,| |610| |-| |629| |A.D.,| |Imitative| |of| |Constans| |II||follis|
The obverse of this type recalls the 12 nummi struck during the Persian occupation of Alexandria. It does not fit neatly into other imitative series. We have tentatively attributed it to the Persian occupation of the Levant.

This coin was published in "Identification, Please?" in Numismatics International Bulletin, Vol. 11, 2, September 1976 (p. 324) by the Rev. Paul E. Syster. It was incorrectly attributed as an official issue of Justinian II from the Sardinia mint.

On the closely related specimen in the Bibliothèque Nationale the M is flanked by A/N/-A/X. That specimen, of similar fabric, carries the marks of the first officina of Constantinople. Morrisson did not attempt attribution beyond imitative of Constans II.

Another example, CNG e-auction 225, lot 631, has the crescent and star on the obverse reversed and a crescent mintmark. CNG attributed the type as a "local imitation" without specifying the location.

BZ65895. Bronze follis, Imitative of Constans II; NI Bulletin, vol. 11, no. 2, p. 57 corr. (this coin); cf. Morrisson BnF 3/X/AE/O1; CNG e-auction 225, lot 631, VF, overstruck on cut down earlier follis, weight 6.009 g, maximum diameter 29.0 mm, die axis 0o, Levantine mint, 610 - 630 A.D.; obverse Byzantine imperial bust facing wearing crown with cross, globus cruciger in right, star upper left, crescent upper right, S right; reverse large M (40 nummi), cross above, A/N-N/N flanking, Γ (3rd officina) below; extremely rare; SOLD


Byzantine Anonymous Follis of Christ, Class A3, Basil II & Constantine VIII, c. 1023 - 11 November 1028 A.D.

|Anonymous| |Folles|, |Byzantine| |Anonymous| |Follis| |of| |Christ,| |Class| |A3,| |Basil| |II| |&| |Constantine| |VIII,| |c.| |1023| |-| |11| |November| |1028| |A.D.||anonymous| |follis|
The emperor's name and portrait are not part of the design on the Byzantine types referred to as anonymous folles. Instead of the earthly king, these coins depict Jesus Christ, King of Kings.
BZ88929. Bronze anonymous follis, Anonymous follis of Christ, DOC III-2, class A3; SBCV 1818; Grierson-NumisWiki ornaments F24a2 (crude), gVF, attractive toned copper surfaces, uneven strike, reverse off center, some porosity, weight 10.689 g, maximum diameter 27.6 mm, die axis 180o, uncertain (Greek?, unofficial?) mint, c. 1023 - 11 Nov 1028 A.D.; obverse + EMMANOVHΛ (romanized Hebrew - God is with us), facing bust of Christ, wearing nimbus cruciger with two pellets in each limb of cross, pallium, and colobium, holding gospels with both hands, gospels ornamented with a star-like ornament, to left IC, to right XC; reverse + IhSuS / XRISTuS / bASILEu / bASILE (Greek: Jesus Christ King of Kings), crude ornamentation above and below inscription; rare; SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Album, S.A. Checklist of Islamic Coins. (Santa Rosa, CA, 1998).
Album, S. & T. Goodwin. Sylloge of Islamic Coins in the Ashmolean Museum, Volume 1, The Pre-Reform Coinage of the Early Islamic Period. (Oxford, 2002).
Bellinger, A.R. & P. Grierson, eds. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection. (Washington D.C., 1966 - 1999).
Foss, C. Arab-Byzantine Coins: An Introduction, with a Catalogue of the Dumbarton Oaks Collection. (Harvard University Press, 2008).
Goodwin, T. Arab-Byzantine Coinage. Studies in the Khalili Collection. (London, 2005).
Hahn, W. Moneta Imperii Byzantini. (Vienna, 1973-81).
Hendy, M. Coinage and Money in the Byzantine Empire 1081-1261. (Washington D.C., 1969).
Hennequin, G. Catalogue des monnaies musulmanes de la Bibliotheque Nationale. (Paris, 1985).
Malloy, A.G., I.F. Preston, & A.J Seltman. Coins of the Crusader States. (New York, 2004).
Metcalf, D.M. Coinage of the Crusaders and the Latin East in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford. (London, 1995).
Mitchiner, M. Oriental Coins and Their Values Volume One : The World of Islam. (London, 1977).
Sear, D. R. Byzantine Coins and Their Values. (London, 1987).
Spengler, W.F. & W.G. Sayles. Turkoman Figural Bronze Coins and Their Iconography. (Lodi, 1992).
Ratto, R. Monnaies Byzantines et d'autre Pays contemporaines à l'époque byzantine. (Lugano, 1930).
Tolstoi, I. Monnaies byzantines. (St. Petersburg, 1913 - 14).
Walker, J. A Catalogue of the Muhammadan Coins in The British Museum. Volume 2: A Catalogue of the Arab-Byzantine and Post-Reform Umaiyad Coins. (London, 1956).
Wroth, W. Catalogue of the Imperial Byzantine Coins in the British Museum. (London, 1908).
Wroth, W. Catalogue of the Coins of the Vandals, Ostrogoths, Lombards and of the Empires of Thessalonica, Nicaea, and Trebizond in the British Museum. (London, 1911).

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