Coins and Antiquities Consignment Shop
  10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Please Call Us If You Have Questions 252-646-1958 Expert Authentication - Accurate Descriptions - Reasonable Prices - Coins From Under $10 To Museum Quality Rarities 10% Off Store-Wide Sale Until 2 April!!! All Items Purchased From Forum Ancient Coins Are Guaranteed Authentic For Eternity!!! Internet Challenged? We Are Happy To Take Your Order Over The Phone 252-646-1958 Explore Our Website And Find Joy In The History, Numismatics, Art, Mythology, And Geography Of Coins!!!

×Catalog Main Menu
Fine Coins Showcase

Antiquities Showcase
New & Reduced


Hide empty categories
Shop Search
Shopping Cart
My FORVM
Contact Us
About Forum
Shopping at Forum
Our Guarantee
Payment Options
Shipping Options & Fees
Privacy & Security
Forum Staff
Selling Your Coins
Identifying Your Coin
FAQs
zoom.asp
   View Categories
Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Byzantine Coins| ▸ |Byzantine Mints| ▸ |Syracuse||View Options:  |  |  |   

Byzantine Syracuse (c. 540 - 878)

Justinian I struck coins in Sicily, most likely at Syracuse beginning in the 540's. The Syracuse mint remained operational until the city was captured by the Arabs in 878.

Byzantine Empire, Theophilus, 12 May 821 - 20 January 842 A.D.

|Theophilus|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Theophilus,| |12| |May| |821| |-| |20| |January| |842| |A.D.||solidus|
In 832, Theophilus banned the usage of icons, establishing strict punishments.
SH83905. Gold solidus, Anastasi 530d; DOC III-1 24; Wroth BMC 31; Tolstoi 10; Sommer 31.8; Morrisson BnF 32/Sy/Av/1 ff.; SBCV 1670; Ratto -, VF, well centered on a tight flan, double struck, die wear, weight 3.495 g, maximum diameter 13.7 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, c. 831 - 842 A.D.; obverse ΘEO-FILOS, bearded bust facing, wearing crown with cross on triangle and chlamys, cross potent in right hand; reverse ΘE-OFILOS, bearded bust facing, wearing crown with cross on triangle and loros, globus cruciger in right hand; from the Robert Watcher Collection, ex Harlan Berk; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Theophilus, 12 May 821 - 20 January 842 A.D.

|Theophilus|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Theophilus,| |12| |May| |821| |-| |20| |January| |842| |A.D.||solidus|
Most references date this type to the joint reign of Michael II and his son Theophilus II (12 May 821 - 2 Oct 829 A.D.) Anastasi identified it as Theophilus' first issue after Michael's death (2 Oct 829 - 830 A.D.).

Theophilus was an accomplished scholar and highly cultured. Although he admired Arab art and civilization, he was obliged to expend much effort defending his eastern frontier against Mutasim, the Caliph of Baghdad. He died of dysentery.
SH83908. Gold solidus, DOC III-1 15a; Anastasi 515c; Wroth BMC 11; Tolstoi 13; SBCV 1646; Sommer 30.6; Morrisson BnF -; Ratto -, VF, slightly irregular tight flan, weight 3.794 g, maximum diameter 13.4 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 829 - 830 A.D.; obverse MI-XAHL bA, bearded facing bust of Michael, wearing chlamys and crown with cross, globus cruciger in right hand; reverse ΘE-OFILO bA, beardless facing bust of Theophilus, wearing loros and crown with cross, cross potent in right hand; from the Robert Watcher Collection; very rare; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constans II and Constantine IV, 13 April 654 - 15 July 668 A.D.

|Constans| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constans| |II| |and| |Constantine| |IV,| |13| |April| |654| |-| |15| |July| |668| |A.D.||follis|
In 663, Constans II invaded southern Italy.
SH68095. Bronze follis, Anastasi 204, DOC II-2 181, SBCV 1110, Hahn MIB 210, Morrisson BnF 13/Sy/AE/09, Sommer 12.92, Wroth BMC 362, Tolstoi 374, Ratto 1638, Choice aEF, well centered and struck, nice green patina, weight 5.242 g, maximum diameter 24.9 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 659 - 663; obverse Constans (left) in military attire with long cross in right, and Constantine in chlamys with globus cruciger in right, both crowned and stand facing; reverse large M flanked by Heraclius (left) and Tiberius, both stand facing in crown and chlamys, each holds globus cruciger in right, monogram above, SCL in exergue; overstruck on a trimmed older coin, no indication of undertype; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Theophilus, 12 May 821 - 20 January 842 A.D.

|Theophilus|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Theophilus,| |12| |May| |821| |-| |20| |January| |842| |A.D.||semissis|
After Leo III, 717-741 A.D., the semissis and tremissis were issued only in small quantities and normally only on particular occasions for ceremonial distribution.
BZ06186. Gold semissis, DOC III-1 19; Wroth BMC 34; Tolstoi 14; Ratto -; Morrisson BnF 6-7; SBCV 1676, gem EF, a near perfect example of this scarce issue - bold, sharp, fantastic centering and mint luster, weight 1.800 g, maximum diameter 12.8 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 829 - 830 A.D.; obverse * ΘEOFILOS b A, crowned bust of Theophilus facing with short beard, wearing chlamys and holding globus cruciger; reverse similar to obverse, but emperor wears loros instead of chlamys and without star preceding legend; from the Woolslayer Collection; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constantine IV, 15 July 668 - 10 July 685 A.D.

|Constantine| |IV|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constantine| |IV,| |15| |July| |668| |-| |10| |July| |685| |A.D.||follis|
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
SH06202. Bronze follis, Anastasi 244, DOC II 61, Berk 741, Hahn 106, SBCV 1208, EF, superior to all examples of this type known to Forum, thin reverse die crack, weight 5.53 g, maximum diameter 23.1 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 668 - 681 A.D.; obverse diademed, helmeted, and cuirassed bust facing, beardless, spear in right, shield on left ornamented with horseman; reverse M between Heraclius (on left) and Tiberius, each stands wearing a crown with cross and chlamys, each holds globus cruciger, monogram above, SCL in exergue; from the Woolslayer Collection, ex Harlan J. Berk; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constans II and Constantine IV, 13 April 654 - 15 July 668 A.D.

|Constans| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constans| |II| |and| |Constantine| |IV,| |13| |April| |654| |-| |15| |July| |668| |A.D.||follis|
In DOC II, Grierson notes this type is "unusually varied in weight, some of them being struck on very light and irregularly shaped flans."
SH65609. Bronze follis, Anastasi 204, DOC II-2 181, SBCV 1110, Hahn MIB 210, Morrisson BnF 13/Sy/AE/09, Sommer 12.92, Wroth BMC 362, Tolstoi 374, Ratto 1638, EF, superb for the type, weight 4.429 g, maximum diameter 19.7 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 659 - 663; obverse Constans (left) in military attire with long cross in right, and Constantine in chlamys with globus cruciger in right, both crowned and stand facing; reverse large M flanked by Heraclius (left) and Tiberius, both stand facing in crown and chlamys, each holds globus cruciger in right, monogram above, SCL in exergue; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Nicephorus I and Stauracius, December 803 - 25 July 811 A.D.

|Nicephorus| |I|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Nicephorus| |I| |and| |Stauracius,| |December| |803| |-| |25| |July| |811| |A.D.||follis|
Nicephorus, the logothete (lord high treasurer) under Empress Irene, gained rule in a palace coup. At the Battle of Pliska, the Bulgarian Khan, Krum, surprised and slew Nicephorus along with a large portion of the Byzantine army. Krum is said to have made a drinking-cup of Nicephorus' skull. Stauracius escaped the battle to Constantinople but was mortally wounded. He surrendered his throne to his brother-in-law, retired to a monastery, and died soon after.
BZ83062. Bronze follis, Anastasi 465; DOC III-1 10; Wroth BMC 13; Ratto 1787; Tolstoi 16; SBCV 1612; Sommer 27.5; Morrison BnF p. 501, Type 2 (not in the collection), Choice gVF, well centered on typical tight flan, nice green patina, weight 2.882 g, maximum diameter 20.3 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, Dec 803 - 25 Jul 811 A.D.; obverse N-I/K/H (Nikephoros), bust of Nicephorus facing, wearing crown and loros, cross potent in right hand; reverse C-T/A/Y (Stauracius), facing bust of Stauracius, wearing crown and chlamys, holding globus cruciger; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constans II, September 641 - 15 July 668 A.D.

|Constans| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constans| |II,| |September| |641| |-| |15| |July| |668| |A.D.||follis|
Anastasi refers to Vecchi Nummorum Auctiones 6. Beyond these two examples, this type appears to be unpublished.
BZ43065. Bronze follis, Anastasi 211bis (this coin), Vecchi Nummorum Auctiones 6, SBCV -, DOC -, gVF, weight 2.382 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse mint, 663 - 668 A.D.; obverse Constans (on left) and Constantine IV standing facing; Constans with long beard, wears military attire, long cross in right, Gospels in left; his son wears chlamys and holds globus cruciger in right; reverse large M (40 nummi), monogram above, SCL in exergue; flanked by Heraclius (on left) and Tiberius standing facing, both beardless, wearing crown and chlamys, and each holding globus cruciger in right; ex Anastasi Collection and his plate coin; extremely rare; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Justinian II, 10 July 685 - Late 695 and Summer 705 - 4 November 711 A.D.

|Justin| |II|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Justinian| |II,| |10| |July| |685| |-| |Late| |695| |and| |Summer| |705| |-| |4| |November| |711| |A.D.||follis|
Justinian II took the throne at the young age of sixteen. He achieved a peace treaty with the Arabs early in his reign and was able to make progress on the Balkan troubles. He was the first of the Byzantine emperors to put the likeness of Christ on his coinage. After ten years of rule, he was overthrown by the general Leontius; his tongue and nose were slit and he was exiled. In 705, Justinian II returned to Constantinople with an army of Bulgars and Slavs. He gained entrance to the city by climbing through an aqueduct pipe and with the advantage of surprise regained his throne. Both Leontius and Tiberius (who succeeded Leontius) were dragged through the streets in chains and beheaded. His revenge soon developed into a reign of terror. A rebellion started in the army and the general Bardanes was named Emperor. Justinian II and his son, Tiberius, age 6, were put to death.
SL111841. Bronze follis, Anastasi 359, SBCV 1300, DOC II-2 60, Hahn MIB 69, Calciati MBBS 50, Spahr 221, Wroth BMC -, Ratto -, Tolstoi -, NGC AU, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5 (6057928-006), weight 4.00 g, maximum diameter c. 21.5 mm, die axis 180o, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy) mint, 1st reign, 685 - 695 A.D.; obverse Justinian standing facing, bearded, wearing crown and loros, large cross potent on two steps in right, globus cruciger in left; reverse large M (40 nummi), monogram above, star below, SCL in exergue; ex Heritage auction 232305 (1 Feb 2023), lot 61247 (part of); NGC| Lookup; scarce; SOLD


Byzantine Empire, Constantine V and Leo IV, 6 June 751 - 14 September 775 A.D.

|Constantine| |V|, |Byzantine| |Empire,| |Constantine| |V| |and| |Leo| |IV,| |6| |June| |751| |-| |14| |September| |775| |A.D.||3/4| |follis|
References identify this type as a half follis, but we believe the Λ in the exergue has a typical Byzantine "clever" dual meaning as both Leo's initial and 30 nummi. There is only one example of this rare type in Dumbarton Oaks. Neither Dumbarton Oaks nor Sear includes the globus cruciger in the right hand in their descriptions, but it is present on the Dumbarton Oaks plate coin.
BZ83043. Bronze 3/4 follis, Anastasi 439 (RR), SBCV 1569A, DOC III-1 20, Sommer 23.1bis, Morrisson BnF -, Wroth BMC -, Ratto -, aEF, weight 1.680 g, maximum diameter 15.1 mm, die axis 180o, Sicily, Syracuse mint, 6 Jun 751 - 14 Sep 775 A.D.; obverse facing busts of Constantine V (on left bearded) and Leo IV (on right beardless), wearing crown without cross and chlamys, in ex CIK'Λ; reverse Leo III, bearded, standing facing wearing crown and loros, cross potent in on base in left, globus cruciger in right, Λ (Leo's initial and 30 nummi) in exergue; rare; SOLD




  




You are viewing a SOLD items page.
Click here to return to the page with AVAILABLE items.
The sale price for a sold item is the private information of the buyer and will not be provided.



MINTMARKS

CVPAKOVCI
SCL
SECILIA



Catalog current as of Friday, March 29, 2024.
Page created in 1.094 seconds.
All coins are guaranteed for eternity