Nomos AG
Auction 18 5 May 2019
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Anonymous Folles, time of Basil II & Constantine VIII, circa 976-1025. Follis (Bronze, 28 mm, 11.29 g, 7 h), Class A2, Constantinople. +EMMA-NOVHΛ/ IC XC Bust of Christ Pantocrator facing, wearing dotted cross nimbus and with five pellets in the arms, right hand raised in blessing, left holding book. Rev. + IҺSЧS / XRISTЧS / ЬASILЄЧ / ЬASILЄ in four lines; above and below, floral decoration. DOC A2.39. SB 1813. A well struck and unusually clear example with a wonderful chocolate brown patina. Virtually as struck.
The 'Anonymous Bronze' series was struck during the later 10th and 11th centuries and attests to the considerable degree of monetization to be found among the Byzantine population during this period. There was an obvious need for low value denominations for daily use, since the well-known silver and gold coins of the period were of too high a value to be used for simple transactions. In archaeological investigations of sites dating to this period such bronzes are very commonly found; though one major problem is that since they were so constantly used the average condition in which they are found is generally pretty awful! Coins like the present piece are, thus, very uncommon, indeed.
The 'Anonymous Bronze' series was struck during the later 10th and 11th centuries and attests to the considerable degree of monetization to be found among the Byzantine population during this period. There was an obvious need for low value denominations for daily use, since the well-known silver and gold coins of the period were of too high a value to be used for simple transactions. In archaeological investigations of sites dating to this period such bronzes are very commonly found; though one major problem is that since they were so constantly used the average condition in which they are found is generally pretty awful! Coins like the present piece are, thus, very uncommon, indeed.