Byzantine Gold Coins 2

SCYPHATES (cup shaped)

The reason for the striking of scyphate coins is obscure. My own theory would be that in an era obssessed with and determined by the spread of Christian theocracy, the coin shape was supposed to recall that of the Ciboreum: the cup which stored the Eucharist: the symbolic blood and body of Christ

At any rate, it has been determined (by Simon Bendall) that in order to render full images and legends, the dies of these coins had to be struck twice while rocked gently from side to side. It is thus extremely difficult, even with the most plentiful issues, to find coins that are well struck on both sides, without being double struck.

Here below are several unusually well struck examples.

click on the coin to see the image enlarged.

...............................................................BYZANTINE GOLD COINS PAGE 1

Isaac I Comnenus. 1057-1059.
AV Histamenon Nomisma (27 mm, 4.41 g). Constantinople. Christ enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / Isaac standing facing, holding drawn sword and resting hand on sheath. DOC 2; SB 1843
EF.............................sold

Manuel I. Komnenos, 1143 - 1180 .
AV Hyperpyron (4,33 g.), Thessalonika mint. Vs.: + KE RO-HQEI / IC - XC, Christ nimbate. MA/NOU/HL DES/PO - TW / P/OR/FU/RO/GE/NH/T/W, King with Labarum and crucifer, DOC 1f; Sear 1971;
Provenance New York Sale - this mint is described as "extremely rare" by D. Sear.
SUPERB EF......................$2250

Manuel I Comnenus (1143-1180). EL aspron trachy (4.30 gm). Thessalonica, 1160-1167. MP—ΘΥ, the Virgin seated facing on throne, holding a medallion with a bust of the infant Christ / Manuel (left) and Saint Demetrius standing, Manuel crowned wearing divitision and loros, Demetrius nimbate and wearing military attire, holding between them Labarum. DOC 9. Hendy pl. 14, 7-9. Sear 1974. Rare. Exceptionally well struck on a broad flan.
Superb EF. .....................$2200.

Alexius I Comnenus. 1081-1118. EL Histamenon Nomisma (4.14 g, 6h). Thessalonica mint. Pre-Reform coinage, circa 1082-1092. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator / Standing facing figures of St. Demetrius, nimbate, holding sword, handing patriarchal cross to Alexius, wearing crown and loros. DOC 5a; SB 1905.
Provenance: Freeman and Sear.Very Rare
EF..............................$1850

JOHN II, Comnenus. 1118-1143 AD. EL Aspron Trachy (4.56 gm). Constantinople mint. Christ enthroned facing / John and St. George standing facing, supporting between them patriarchal cross on three steps. DOC IV 8c; SB 1942. From the Jürgen K. Schmidt Collection. Ex Jean Elsen Vente 57 (6 March 1999), lot 2033; Münzen und Medaillen Liste 498 (April 1987), no. 73.
Toned EF, exceptional..........$1800

Isaac II Angelus 1185-1195 AD, EL aspron trachy, (4.23gm,) Constantinople mint. Obv: The Virgin enthroned facing, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium, holding the nimbate head of the infant Christ facing; on either side of nimbus, MP and ΘV, both overlined. Rev: The Archangel Michael, nimbate right and Isaac left, with Michael wearing military attire, holding jewelled sceptre in left hand, and crowning Isaac, who wears divitision and chlamys and holds cruciform sceptre and akakia; between their heads, Θ; to lower right, X/M. Sear BCV 2002; Ratto 2178f. Superb EF..........................$2200

EMPIRE OF NICAEA. John III, Ducas-Vatatzes. (1222-1254 AD). Gold hyperpyron (4.35 gm). Magnesia, 1232-1254 AD. Christ enthroned, raising
right hand, to the left IC; to right, XC, / John standing on left, crowned by the Virgin, columnar legends left and right (flatly struck on this specimen) naming John and calling him despot and "born to the purple."Sear 2073. Beautifully struck.
Mint State.....................sold

Andronicus II Palaeologus, with Michael IX. 1282-1328. AV Hyperpyron (23mm, 4.02 g,). Thessalonica mint. Bust of the Virgin, orans, within city walls with six groups of towers; K(retrograde)-K / Christ standing facing, crowning Andronicus and Michael kneeling to either side. DOC -; SB 2396 var.; Bendall 207.2.
Good VF, for the issue............$645

Byzantine Gold Coins Page 1

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