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Ancient Coin and trade weights
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There is considerable debate on the exact weight of the Roman pound which is the ancestor of the Byzantine pound. Generally it has been proposed that the weight of the pound become slightly lighter over the years. Simon Bendall (Byzantine weights: an Introduction, 1996) mentions that in the Geneva Museum and the Munz Zentrum sales that a number of one pound weights varied between 324 gm and 280 gm. By about 1343 there is reasonable evidence that a pound was about 304 gm, after starting at around 327 gm and this number can be disputed.
Byzantine weights are for commercial which are in pounds, ounces or fractions, or are coin weights weighted as nomismata or solidi. Six nomismata were in an ounce, hence 72 to a pound. Complicating this is that there is evidence that possibly there was a provincial pound that was spit into 14 ounces rather than 12 ounces with seven nomismata instead of six.
Typically there are symbols associated with commercial weights, and those for coins. For a variety of reasons including archeological evidence, weights are considered to belong to the sixth and seventh centuries. Often weights bear a mark of value but little else, often these are thought to be household weights. Justinian I in 545 issued edicts for certain officials to be responsible for standards and that these weights were to be kept in a church in each city. Many weights espically round ones seem expertly made possibly from a centralized area of production, but the engraving seem at times crude, suggesting that they were then engraved locally. Square weights were adjusted by filing on the edges resulting at times in a rougher looking appearance.
271 files, last one added on Dec 08, 2022 Album viewed 111 times
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Clipped Trachys of the Late Byzantine era
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As has been discussed these are the "neatly clipped" tracheas that are often found in hoards form the late 1100's and early 1200's. During the reign of Manuel I (1143-1180) the silver content of the trachy was dropped from c.6% to c.3%. In Alexius III's time (1195-1203) these high silver types were clipped down to half size, probably officially, presumably so as to match the lower silver content of the later issues. Hendy and Grierson believe that this shearing was a consequence of the devaluation of trachy mixture during the reign of Isaac II and Alexius III. They reduced by half the already low silver content of this coin: shearing coins of previous emperors, still widely in circulation, made their trachy consistent with the intrinsic value of current emissions. Of course, this does not justify the clipping of coins of the already degraded of Isaac II and Alexius III. The structure of their dispersion in hoards indicates that, however, they were made after the other emissions. Clipped trachys appear in small amounts along with regular trachy in hoards, represents a rarity. Were clipped trachys of Manuel I, Andronicus I, Isaac II and Alexius III, and perhaps of John II; those of Manuel are less scarce. In principle, we must believe that all trachys after Manuel I have been clipped, although many have not yet appeared. There are still a number of question concerning these interesting coins. Much of this discussion is copied from conversation with Ross G. and Antvwala on the byzantine discussion board.
12 files, last one added on Sep 16, 2018 Album viewed 1 times
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Constantine IV, Pogonatus 668-685 CE
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Faced by a siege by caliph Muawija I, of Constantinople, he was the first to use the famous "greek fire:. Though it took four years, the Arabs were forced to retreat, which prevented the Muslim tide from sweeping over a infant Europe, a moment of great historical significance. Constantine deposed his two brothers, Heraclius and Tiberius, and ruled alone until his death in 685. He was succeeded by his 16 yr old son Justinian.
5 files, last one added on Nov 30, 2016 Album viewed 5 times
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Constantine VII (913-959) and Romanus I (920-944)
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The reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos was a period of artistic activity and learning. This period also saw the collection and copying of Greek books of antiquity.
The luxury of the court of this time can be seen from its treasures. These include deeply spiritual items such as ivory triptychs (for example, the ivory from the Pushkin Museum representing Christ blessing Emperor Constantine VII), or imperious expressions of power, such as the Troyes Casket, or even parodies of pagan images, such as the Veroli Casket.
In 949 the western ambassador Liudprand of Cremona was received by Constantine VII at his court. The ambassador’s amazement at the luxury is apparent from his description:
“Before the emperor’s throne stood a tree, made of gilded bronze, ist branches filled with birds also gold, uttering different cries, depending on their species. The throne was so marvellously fashioned that at one moment it seemed a low structure, and at another it rose high into the air. It was immense and guarded by lions made of bronze or of wood covered over with gold who beat the ground with their tails and gave a dreadful roar with open mouths and quivering tongues … I three times made obeisance to the emperor with my face upon the ground.”
ex from "'Archaeology in Europe' Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos"
14 files, last one added on Nov 06, 2022 Album viewed 2 times
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Latin Rulers of Constantinople and Thessalonica 1204-1261 CE
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In April 1204, Frankish and Venetian Crusaders ransacked, looted and seized Constantinople at the end of the Fourth Crusade. Nicetas Choniates, as well as Pope Innocent II both recorded how the Crusaders tore down the alters and melted the ancient bronze statues of Constantinople to melt in to small bronze coins. Theodure Lascaris son-in-law of Alexius II fled to Nicaea and set up a empire in 1208. The empire was divided roughly in three shares, each receiving a small part of Constantinople and a part farher away. One for a Latin emperor, one for the Venetians and one for the Frankish contingent, all with a number of overlapping emperors and coinage. In 1261 Michael VIII Palaeologus, founder of the last Byzantine dynasty was crowned (or recrowned as he had been co-emperor with the Nicaean Emperor John IV) in the ancient church of St. Sophia, and commited himself to the resotoration of the Byzantine Empire.
60 files, last one added on Feb 26, 2018 Album viewed 31 times
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Nicephorus II Phocas 963-969 CE
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Nicephorus Phocas was born sometime in the year 912 to the wealthy and aristocratic Phocas family of Cappadocia. The Phocas family was known as one of the most outstanding military families in all Byzantium, as well as the largest land-holding family in Cappadocia. His father was Bardas Phocas, who was Domestic of the East during the reign of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, but had retired in 942. Nicephorus succeeded him in the post.
Nicephorus, whose name means “Bringer of Victory”, proved to be a better general than his father was. Indeed, he was such an adept military leader that he was feared by the Moslem world as the “White Death of the Saracens.” To the Byzantines, he was respected as one of the empire’s greatest generals. He was known for his almost Cromwellian discipline, and was one of the most Puritannical leaders in all of Byzantine history. He didn’t drink, chase women, or even eat meat. When he was young he had been married to a woman whose name is unknown, and had a son named Bardas. Unfortunately, his wife had died, and Bardas was killed in a javelin-throwing accident, while practicing military tactics with a cousin. Nicephorus was so grieved by the deaths of his wife and son that he vowed never to drink wine, chase women, or eat meat for the rest of his life. He had even intended to enter a monastery, at the urging of his friend, St. Athanasius. However, his plans were changed by unfortunate events in Constantinople.
6 files, last one added on Dec 15, 2011 Album viewed 10 times
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Phocas 602-610 CE
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After Maurice Tiberius and his entire family was murdered, Phocas crowned himself emperor. While launching a campaign of terror and muder to keep himself in power, he met with military disaster from both the east and west. The Exarch of Africa Heraclius, sent his son also called Heraclius to Constantinople with a fleet, seized and executed Phocas.
The coins of Phocas are unusual because they revive an interest in portraiture, which the engravers of the stylized portraits of most early Byzantine emperors had long ignored. In contrast to the busts of other sixth-century emperors, the portrait of Phocas emphasizes his barbarian heritage. His pointed beard and his straight, shaggy hair give him a distinctly foreign appearance, and he wears a simple crown and a military cloak, the paludamentum, fastened with a fibula or pin on the right shoulder. His beard set a precedent for most later emperors.
5 files, last one added on Dec 09, 2018 Album viewed 5 times
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Pirdop Hoard
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Pirdop Hoard
The following collection is a group of 32 bronze coins found reportedly as a hoard
The 32 coins consist of five emperors from the earliest and only one of Justin I (518-27) with illegible mint date, to the latest coins that being two Heraclius follis (sb 834) yr. 612/3 and (sb805) yr. 613/4. There are four coins of Justinian I, a large and small follis of sb 163, one unk Justinian follis and a sb160. The most plentiful variety of which there are 17 is of Justin II. Nine, which are of the Constantinople mint (all sb360), five of Nicomedia (4 sb369, 1 sb370) two Thessalonica (sb366 and one unk half follis) and one from Cyzicus (sb 372). There are no coins of Tiberius II Constantine. There are six coins of Maurice Tiberius, three sb 509, one sb 497 and one sb 518. There are two unidentified coins, one being a half follis and the one a clipped Pentanummium.
The coins are of good metal al in reasonably good condition showing little wear as in typical for these. There is a heavy green cupreous oxide patina on some of the coins obscuring details. Several have uneven strikes.
33 files, last one added on Jul 19, 2011 Album viewed 1 times
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Last additions - wileyc's Gallery |

Chatel Type Denier Tournois Obv: + ALFVNSVS COMES.(Alphonse, comte). around cross
Rev: + PICTAVIENTSIS.(Poitou) Châtel tournois
Mint: Montreuil-Bonnin
Date: 1249-1267
18mm; .86g
Roberts 5201 (like) BD .431; PA 2582'
ex CNG eAuction 529wileycApr 09, 2023
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Crusader, Bohemond III, Billon denierBohemond III, Minority (1159-63)
O:+BOAHVNDVS Helmeted head, left., bearded in chain mail, cross patted on helmet. crescent upwards L., five pointed star r.
R:+AMTIOCHIA Cross patee, crescent downward in first angle
Mint: Antioch
Date: 1159-1163.
.84g, 18mm
ex-cng sale 94, lot 1249wileycApr 02, 2023
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AR Denier French feudal Souvigny Denier of Souvigny abbotts
Bust Of saint Mayeul (4th Abbot of Cluny born in 906 AD in Avignon, France. He died on May 11 994 AD at Souvigny)
Obv: SCS MAILOUS
Rev: + SILVINACO cross
Mint: Souvigny
Date:1080-1213 CE
19mm; .75g
Roberts 4913, Mayhew p44-78wileycMar 08, 2023
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French Early Feudal County of GeinGeoffrey III Denier
Obv:Cross with a hammer in second quarter and a coin in third, GOESDVS COS
Rev:Monogram of Fulk, simplified,GIEMIS CΛ
Mint: Gien, france;
Some consider it to be an immobilized coinage in the name of Geoffrey II of Donzy (1055-1097), also minted under Hervé II of Donzy (1097-1121), Geoffrey III (1121-1158) and Hervé III of Donzy (1158-1187).
Date: 1120-1160
20mm; .90g
R4118;
wileycDec 21, 2022
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One solidi coin weight4.97g
11mm diameter
7mm thick
Gamma, dot, retrograde gamma. I in top rightwileycDec 08, 2022
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French Early Feudal Fulk IV-V 1069-1129Obv.: +FVLCO COMES starting at 3hr. cross pattée, omega in quadrant 3, alpha in quadrant 4
Rev.: + VRBS AIDCCSV. Around Fulk’s monogram
Mint.: Anjou
Fulk V or Geoffrey V, r. 1109-1129 or 1129-1151
Ref.: Duplessy 375, Roberts 4114
.82g, 17mmwileycNov 30, 2022
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Andronicus II/Michael IX AE trachy SBCV 2438Obv:AVTOKPATOPEC RWMAIWN, Andronicus and Michael standing facing, holding cross-in-circle on long staff between them.
Rev: Two concentric circles bisected by three vertical lines
Mint: Thessalonica mint.
Date; 1295-1320
SBCV 2458, GR 1462
21mm, 1.46g
wileycNov 30, 2022
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French Early Feudal Anonymous Counts of BearnR: +ONOR FOCAS
A over P+=PAX
Obv: CENTVLLO COMES
Mint:Bearn
Date: 905-1134
.35g
11mm
R.4182
wileycNov 27, 2022
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Anonymous Folles Class G, sbcv 1867Attributed to Romanus IV
Obv: IC-XC to left and right of bust of Christ, nimbate, facing, right hand raised, scroll in left, all within border of large dots
Rev: MP-ΘV to left and right of Mary, nimbate, hands raised, all inside border of large dots.
Mint- Constantinople
Date 1068-1071
sbcv 1867
5.85g, 28mmwileycNov 23, 2022
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Manuel I AE half tetarteronObv:P-over-w GIOC to left of bust facing of St. George, unbearded, nimbate, wearing tunic, cuirass and cloak, holding spear and shield
Rev: MANVHΛ ΔECΠOTH (or MANOVHΛ ΔEC), crowned, unbearded bust facing of Manuel, wearing loros, holding labarum and cross on globe.
Mint:greek mint
sbvc 1980
18mm, 1.94gwileycNov 23, 2022
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Annonymous Count of LaMarche denier, early feudal R: cross;LODOICVS
Obv: Cresent above cross and three annulets, EGOLISSIME
Mint: La Marche county
Date:12-13th c
.91g, 20mm
Roberts 4361
wileycNov 21, 2022
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Andronicus II/Michaek IX Copper Assyria sbcv 2435Obv: Half length fogure of Andronicus and Michael with Christ in center crowning them.
Rev: Bust of Archangel Michael
Mint: Constantinople
Date: 1295-1320
SBCV 2435 Gr. 1484
1.25g, 20mm
wileycNov 16, 2022
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Random files - wileyc's Gallery |

Islamic weightten dirham weight, with dirhams of 2.4g
beaded ring both ends
one end with three dots and unclear signa
16mm/17mm 24.12g
wileyc
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AE follis Justin II SB 361Obverse: DN IVSTINVS PP AVG (or similar), Justin on l., and Sophia on r., seated facing on double throne, both nimbate; he holds gl. cr., she holds cruciform sceptre; rarely with cross between thier heads.
Reverse: Large K, cross above ANNO to l., regnal year to rt (IIII), officina letter "delta" below.
Date: 568/9 CE
Mint: Constantinople
Sear 361 DO 44-58
22mm 6.78 gmwileyc
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AE Decanummium Justin II SB 367Obverse: Diad., dr. and cuir. bust r.
Reverse: Large I, cross above, ANNO to l., regnal yr to r. (YI III) yr 9
Date: 573/74 CE
Mint: Thesslonica
Sear: 367, DO 86-90wileyc
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