My first Byzantine extraterrestial coin!

WillieBoyd2

I bought this coin because the obverse picture looked like a movie or TV space alien.
And not a nice one!

Details:

Byzantine Justinian (AD 527-565) AE Follis

Obverse: Diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right
D N IVSTINIANVS PP AVG
Reverse: Large letter "M"
Small star left, cross top and right, gamma under "M"
Exergue: CON (Constantinople mint)

Catalog: Sear 158 - Struck AD 527-538 - Size 30mm

Note: The "M" is a Greek letter for the number 40.
Note: Value 40 nummi. Gamma is the mint officina letter.

Full name: Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus
Life span: AD 482-565

Blackhawk

That is kinda scary.

Aethelred

Byzantine coins can be fun, it is an area that is almost unexplored.

dcamp78

Does anybody know a good source for uncleaned Ancient coins?
I've seen all of the auctions on eBay, but some of the descriptions sound like BS.

Also, how about uncleaned ancient Arabic coins?

WillieBoyd2

Come to think of it, the "creature" looks now like a Giant Ant.

lordmarcovan

You should see the MONSTER follis Aethelred bought for me and my Holey Coin Vest while we were in Charlotte. I had no idea they made 'em so big.

So, anyone, what is the primary reference on Byzantine coins? It is a real dead zone in my reference area and knowledge.

WillieBoyd2

I don't know if it is the primary reference but D.R. Sear's book "Byzantine Coins & Their Values" is one.

lordmarcovan

I thought there was a Sear book. I have two volumes of Sear about Roman coins and one about Greek coins.


Here, check out this big bruiser. I'm told it's uhh... what, seventh century?



While the hole is not PQ (in other words, I would've preferred it at the top of the obverse), I really liked the piece and considered it worthy to go on the overcrowded Holey Coin Vest. I'm much more selective about my holeys these days. I reimbursed Michael what he'd paid for it, and consider it twenty bucks well spent.

(Am I misremembering, or is the emperor on this coin also named Michael?)

STLNATS

Nice big "follis" of Justinian (ca 527-565). Full name is "Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Justinianus," not Michael. The coin is dated (anno XIII), so was minted around 540 in the city of Nicomedia (NIK) in the 2nd workshop (B below the M). The M indicates that it is a 40 nummi denomination.

Great condition, but too bad about the hole

Yes, the Sear book is a basic, gotta have collector reference.

lordmarcovan

I saw the "year 13" part, and figured NIK was Nicomedia. But I couldn't figure out the emperor's name. Thanks!