Smackdown XXIIi, Ancient/Medieval Limbo

One of the most interesting smackdowns so far... Well picked topic Chris!

Technically the last "Roman Emperor" was Constantine XI, who died trying to defend what was left of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire from the Ottoman attack in 1453. The last Roman emperor of the ancient era from my view is Zeno.


Depends on how the author likes to call the Roman Empire in the east. But Byzantine Empire=Eastern Roman Empire. Me personally I refer to the ERE as Byzantine starting with Anastasius.
Also, remember that the Byzantines never referred to themselves as "Byzantine". They knew themselves simply as "Romans", and their empire as the "Roman Empire", even up to 1453.

You must be rigth and I wrong,because there will be one common point to finish an era.Theodorico,had very different coins,and lived sametime that the last Occident empiror!!

This is not an entry (If I win, I will decline the honor of running the next show since I did so poorly with my last outing in that department!) but I like the opportunity to speak on a favorite subject:

Anastasius was the first Byzantine Emperor to many people because he issued the first Byzantine coins (the big M issue) but I also credit him with the last old style Roman bronze coins of which I offer this pre reform nummus. To me it is the last ancient Roman coin but Anastasius' lettered issues including the one nummus with A on the reverse (which I do not own) are medieval and Byzantine. If you must draw a line, that is where I draw it.



My second non-entry was issues just a few years earlier by Huneric the Vandal(477-484 AD) who did what he could to end the Roman Empire along with a few million of his barbaric friends. The reverse shows the value 4 in Nummi (see the N) and could be where Anastasius got the idea of the denominationally marked coins. Perhaps this coin rests on the cusp and could be called pre-medieval?




Opinion: Any teacher of history who tests his class on divisions like ancient and medieval and expects them to know dates like 476 AD should be required to find a job elsewhere. If you like my coins, vote for the other guy.

Stefano II, duke and bishop of Naples, 755-800. AE19-17. 1.41 grams. 5:00 die axis.
Bust of St. Gennaro facing/cross with S T on either side.
Biaggi 1616. Kuenker 137 type of lot 3760, says "Grierson/Travani 1".
Denomination; mezzo follaro
This one I bought without knowing what it was. It took quite a bit of research to find out, because references for medieval coins are few and far between. I bought the four volumes of the magnificent and very well-illustrated De Wit collection auctioned by Kuenker in 2008 and found it in there.

Haha stefano got a skully, must have been a cold day for the king! Love the obverse!!

Great lookin' coins, fellas ... a lot of coins that I have never seen before (very interesting time-span)