Coin Item Number: 3095/1460 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Byzantine coin from ‘Anonymous Folles’ Period, 970-1092. (Likely Nicephorus III, 1078-1081.) Obverse: bust of Christ, facing front; he has a nimbus cruciger around his head, which is a cross within a halo; in his left hand, he holds the Book of Gospels, which is decorated with dots; to right, inscription says ‘XC’. Reverse: large cross; in the middle, there is an ‘X’; on each of the four ends, there is one large pellet and two small pellets; to lower left and lower right of cross, there are floral ornaments; to upper left of cross, there is a crescent. Coin has been overstruck.
History Of Use
"Follis" (denomination); DO# Class I; Sear# 1889. According to the Sear catalogue, this coin most likely belonged to Nicephorus III, 1078-1081.
Narrative
The ‘Anonymous Folles’ are a group of coins spanning just over a century. They often have a depiction of Christ in place of any images or inscriptions which would indicate the emperor to whose reign they belong, thus rendering them anonymous.
Item History
- Made in Istanbul, Turkey and Constantinopolis, Turkey between 1075 and 1080
- Owned by David Herman before February 2, 2015
- Received from David Herman (Donor) on February 2, 2015
What
- Name
- Coin
- Identification Number
- 3095/1460
- Type of Item
- coin
- Material
- bronze metal
- Overall
- height 0.1 cm, diameter 2.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Byzantine
- Previous Owner
- David Herman
- Received from
- David Herman (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Istanbul, Turkey and Constantinopolis, Turkey
When
- Creation Date
- between 1075 and 1080
- Ownership Date
- before February 2, 2015
- Acquisition Date
- on February 2, 2015
Other
- Item Classes
- metalwork
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 3095/1460