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 Replies: 7 / Views: 1,403 |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Here are two Byzantine billon Trachy of the emperor Isaac II Angelus 1185-1195. They are listed under the same Sear number 2003, but are they the same type coin. Coin #1 is 30mm x 3.9 grams, the obverse depicts the Virgin Mary enthroned. The letter MO-OV on either side of her head. The reverse depicts the emperor in his regalia with the legend: I CAA KI OC AEC POTH. Coin #2 IS 25 mm X 2.8 grams, 5 mm smaller and 1.1 gram lighter, yet they are supposed to be the same coin. The obverse is also a bit different. Mary is still seated enthroned, but instead of the MP-OV there is an error of MX- and the other letters are missing due to a weak strike. On the left side of the throne is a dot and on the right side is a star. The reverse is the same as coin #1. Sear starts that a variety does exist with a star on both sides of the throne, but he doesn't state the difference in size and weight.    Coin #1  Coin #2 |
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CCF Sponsor
United States
702 Posts |
They don't look much alike to me! Could striking differences really account for all of those changes? Your second picture, the design is so comparatively crude it made me wonder if it is a contemporary counterfeit, but it could just be a different die or different mint?
Fun study... Waiting for the other people who actually know what they're talking about to weigh in and to see your final analysis, echizento![popcorn]
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
They were both struck at Constantinople. The obverse of each coin where from different dies, the slight differences of the reverse dies would also suggest different dies. These coins were struck during the emperors ten year rule, with the first one being struck in the earlier period of his reign and the second later on. This might explain the difference in size and weight.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4973 Posts |
cool scyphate coins ski! I don't know ski, I don't have one of the type. I opened up a few on vcoins, and there seem to be quite a bit of variation in weight and style. mary is holding an infant jesus on this type, I think I can see him on your second pic...eyes anyway.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Your right Chris, Mary is holding infant Jesus.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
Hi Ski,
I have one of these in my collection, I will dig it out for you when my slave shift is over ( on my lunch break )
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
701 Posts |
As promised     Weight - 3.19g Size - 25mm Same size as coin 2 but the weight falls in the middle of the two. Hope this helps  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
You would think there would be more of a size and weight standard, but it appears that was not the case. I have seen other trachies struck on heavy thick flans and others struck on very light and thin flans all from the same emperor.
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Replies: 7 / Views: 1,403 |
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Posted 06/14/2015 6:51 pm
