Please Help

Mohawk

I've had a coin in my possession for several years now that I found when I was a child in the woods. I will try to describe it to you as best as I possibly can. First, I know it is a hand-stamped coin made of copper due to the fact that I know what copper smells and looks like. Second, on one side it has a man in some type of ceremonial dress from the belly button up wearing something on his head that looks like something Buddha would wear. On the other side of the coin it has a large M in the middle with an E that looks rounded underneath the M and a t above the M. On the right side of the M there are four lines closely together like this: IIII. There is also a line under the M that goes horizontal and under that line it says THEUPS. On the side with the man the only letters I can make out on the upper right hand corner is: CAPAUT. The first A kind of looks like an N though. If you could please help me with this it would be very muchly appreciated. I have attached some photos. I just have no idea what this thing is. Once again thank you for your time.

spoon

It's a Byzantine 40 nummi (the big M is the denomination).. I'll have to take a better look for more specifics, but I'm sure someone else will beat me to it.

WillieBoyd2

Byzantine Maurice Tiberius (AD 582-602) Follis



The WildWinds ancient coin database has one:
http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sb/sb0533.html

And I have one like it:


Byzantine Maurice Tiberius AE Follis
Obverse: Facing bust, crowned and in consular robes, with mappa and eagle-tipped scepter
F N MAUGI C N P AUT
Reverse: Large letter "M", ANNO left, cross above, XIII right, gamma below
Exergue: THEUP (Antioch mint)
Catalog: Sear 533 - Struck AD 595-596 - Size 29mm x 30mm

It's on my website at:
http://www.brianrxm.com/htmdir/cnsbyzan_maurice.htm

Mohawk

Thank you all very much. Its good to know that these aren't that rare and I'm just ignorant lol. Is there any value to these coins at all?

WillieBoyd2

Mohawk,

Such a coin might be worth a few dollars.

Your coin was made at the same mint as mine but a different officina (office).
Yours has an "E" under the "Big M" and mine has a Gamma there.

You might want to change or edit the thread title from "Please Help" to something
more definite, like "please identify old coin".