MANUEL I COMNENUS, 1143-1180
Mint of Thessalonica
Electrum aspron trachy 1160-1167 (?).
Obv. The Virgin, nimbate, seated on backless throne, wearing tunic and maphorion and holding medallion of the infant Christ; in field, MHR ligate – ΘV.
Rev. ... – Legend misstruck.( OΔHMMTPI) Manuel on l. wearing crown, divitision and chlamys and holding akakia, and St. Demetrius on r., nimbate and wearing short military tunic, both holding star shaped labarum between them.
Sear 1974. DOC pl. 14, 9.
2.02 g. Scyphate form. Half weight but not clipped. Almost extremely fine.
Can we deduct from this coin that the Thessalonica mint issued ½ aspron trachys? If the coin is clipped, it would mean that the diameter would be some 50% larger, which seems hardly feasible.
Ex SKA Monetarium Zurich. Price ist May 1994. Nr. 100.
Update: Underweight because they were minted for use in Trebizond under Alexius I (1204-1222), see Prof. Dr. Andreas Sommer: Die Münzen des Byzantinischen Reiches 491-1453. Mit einem Anhang: Die Münzen des Reiches von Trapezunt. Regenstauf: Battenberg Verlag, 2010, S. 343 f., Nr. 61.2.2 u. 61.5 and passim.