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Is this a Byzantine piece?

ormandhormandh Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum
I bought this a couple of weeks back in a junk bin, but was only gambling that it was worth the half dollar I paid for it. Can someone help me attribute it? Or is it too far gone to decipher? Thanks! -Dan


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    lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yes, it does indeed look like a Byzantine follis, but that is about all the information I can personally offer, I'm afraid.

    Edit to add: you paid fifty cents for it? You did well! I can say that much, too. image

    (It's probably not the cherrypick of the century, but heck, for fifty cents, you're in definite "can't lose" territory!)

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    lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Oh, yeah- as you have probably guessed, that would be a facing portrait of Christ on the obverse (with a halo behind His head).

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    FilthyBrokeFilthyBroke Posts: 3,518
    That is quite a deal! I really need to start searching the junk bins.
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    STLNATSSTLNATS Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭
    Yes, it appears to be one of the anonymous bronze coinage of the mid 10th thru 11th centuries. There are several series of these which have similar obverses - Christ bust - but different reverses. Gernerally common and inexpensive in lower grade, well stuck high grade pieces bring big premiums.

    edited to add: just saw the reverse, and I think it looks like the class B variety (cross with legend in corners). These are attributed to Romanus III (1028-1034). I'm not an expert, altho I do find the varieties a lot of fun and have a few examples. BTW, these are often overstruck on other varieties so can have elements of more than one type showing. Certainly worth half a buck.

    image
    Always interested in St Louis MO & IL metro area and Evansville IN national bank notes and Vatican/papal states coins and medals!
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    lordmarcovanlordmarcovan Posts: 43,218 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hey, I'd swap you an 1838-D half eagle for it! image

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    ormandhormandh Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭
    Great! I am very frugal with ancients because they often times are a dime a dozen, literally speaking. -Dan
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    ormandhormandh Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭
    Should I soak this one in EVOO?
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    ormandhormandh Posts: 3,111 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Hey, I'd swap you an 1838-D half eagle for it! image >>



    I will think about it! I actually have an extensive collection of dealer tokens. My favorite one is made of aluminum from a dealer in Atlanta and dated 1982. The dealer's name escapes me though. -Dan
    Numismasource ebay store
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