1500 years old gold hammered coin. Finally.

[vince76]

Woke up at five o'clock. My mom had already prepared some food to take with me. In 40 mins I got to the same hill where I found last Sunday the big byzantine coin. Till 12 o'clock nothing special except this strange coin.



than some coins came one after one. They are more than 2100 years old and almost flat.
Near a small bush I had an iffy sound. It looked like a piece of bronze but cleaning it with the fingers was enough to see that it was cold. First I found only the biggest part so I had to search for the others. I missed the small piece on the center.

Gold Solidus, Justinian 527-565 AD.








Alexander III the Great - King of Macedonia 336-323 B.C.
Bronze (20mm, 5.85gm.)
Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin.
Club and bow in bow case





And just before leaving I found this silver coin. No idea yet.
Thanks for reading.

 

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[vince76]

I'm curious though - what could cause a gold coin to shatter like that?!?!?

Some types of byzantine coins are dished shape. I have found last year another dished shape bronze coin. So I think because of the shape and some pressure on it. I found it near a bush and almost 5 cm deep. During 1500 years, who knows what happened there!

 

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[Ahab8]

Vince that's an incredible piece of history! Congratulations on what's gotta be a once in a lifetime recovery. I hope it's your first of several gold coins

 

[vince76]

Vince that's an incredible piece of history! Congratulations on what's gotta be a once in a lifetime recovery. I hope it's your first of several gold coins

Thanks man.
That's exactly my first piece of this kind.

 

[Silver Searcher]

Early Byzantine coinage had the head of the Emperor, Justininian 11 departed from this by putting a bust of Christ on the obverse, and a half or full-length portrait of the Emperor on the reverse. The coins are disc shaped (skyphate).

A very nice find Vince.

SS

 

[Silver Searcher]

Ugly, but a great start. We know it is just the start...

How do you work that out...ugly just in bit's that's all.

 

[CRUSADER]

How do you work that out...ugly just in bit's that's all.

Maybe I should have said 'ugly condition'.(Which is what I meant)

 

[Silver Searcher]

Vince are you sure about it being Justinian. The later Byzantine scyphate coins were often made of Elecrum (debased Gold) this could explain why it fragmented.

SS

 

[DeepseekerADS]

Great find, would curl my toes for sure!

Nobody's voted Banner yet?

Consider my vote in!

 

[vince76]

How do you work that out...ugly just in bit's that's all.

It's ok, that's the way how Cru wanted to say "great find"

 

[CRUSADER]

It's ok, that's the way how Cru wanted to say "great find"

I know I have a strange way of putting things, but what I wasn't doing is putting the find down, only its condition, which you can improve next time.
Anyways here is Cru'Dad's ID;

''I believe that Vince’s Gold coin is actually a Nicephorus III of AD1078-81 as per the link below:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/nicephorus_III/sb1881.1.jpg (Sorry tested link & doesn't work, so go direct to wildwinds)


Nicephorus III, Botaniates. 1078-1081 AD. Electrum histamenon nomisma (trachy), (4.32 gm). Constantinople. IC-XC to upper left and right, Christ seated facing on throne without back, wearing nimbus cross, raising right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in left; double border / + NIKHF DEC TW ROTANIAT, Nicephorus standing facing on footstool, bearded, wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and cross on globe; double border. Berk 335. DO 3b. Sear 1881.''

 

[vince76]

Vince are you sure about it being Justinian. The later Byzantine scyphate coins were often made of Elecrum (debased Gold) this could explain why it fragmented.

SS

Thanks mate.
Well, I'm not sure. When I said it is a Justinian coin I based on the
1. Web search
2. The area has been abandoned around that time.
3. In that area I have found mostly two kinds of coins, Illyrian 400-100 BC and Justinianus coins.
4. It is similar to the bronze of the same type.

But I haven't find exactly the same on web!

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks mate.
Well, I'm not sure. When I said it is a Justinian coin I based on the
1. Web search
2. The area has been abandoned around that time.
3. In that area I have found mostly two kinds of coins, Illyrian 400-100 BC and Justinianus coins.
4. It is similar to the bronze of the same type.

But I haven't find exactly the same on web!

See above post #30.

 

[DFW_THer]

Ugly, but a great start. We know it is just the start...

Cru, keepin' it real since May 2007 :P

Killer find bud!

 

[islamoradamark]

wow that is really history in the making well done

 

[Carolina Tom]

Congrats Vince! That is an exceptional find! Banner worth.

 

[vince76]

I know I have a strange way of putting things, but what I wasn't doing is putting the find down, only its condition, which you can improve next time.
Anyways here is Cru'Dad's ID;

''I believe that Vince’s Gold coin is actually a Nicephorus III of AD1078-81 as per the link below:

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/nicephorus_III/sb1881.1.jpg (Sorry tested link & doesn't work, so go direct to wildwinds)


Nicephorus III, Botaniates. 1078-1081 AD. Electrum histamenon nomisma (trachy), (4.32 gm). Constantinople. IC-XC to upper left and right, Christ seated facing on throne without back, wearing nimbus cross, raising right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in left; double border / + NIKHF DEC TW ROTANIAT, Nicephorus standing facing on footstool, bearded, wearing crown and loros, holding labarum with X on shaft and cross on globe; double border. Berk 335. DO 3b. Sear 1881.''

Thanks Cru.
I think Cru dad nailed it. I have sent the coin to Wildwinds but they haven't answered me yet. If it is correct than I have new facts about that area. The archeologists say that in that area the people began building a castle but after the Roman-Illyrian wars the construction was abandoned. But if I find coins from 5th centuary and now the gold one is from the 11th February, the history should be corrected.

 

[CRUSADER]

Thanks Cru.
I think Cru dad nailed it. I have sand to Wildwinds the pic but they haven't answered me yet. If it is correct than I have new facts about that area. The archeologists say that in that area the people began building a castle but after the Roman-Illyrian wars the construction was abandoned. But if if find coins from 5th February and now the gold one is from the 11th February the history should be corrected.

Our finds often differ from the known Archy records, that's why our information is important & so is its find-spot. If you don't already GPS, its a good idea.
Maybe too early to correct it yet because of other possibilities. More evidence is needed.

 

[DownNDirty]

Fantastic find Vince-big congrats!

I would suggest that you go back to the spot where you found the other pieces and sift all of the dirt there. You will have to use a fine mesh screen-1/8 inch or 1/4 inch at the largest and it will be slow work but if you keep at it you should be able to find the missing piece. Best of luck to you

 

[UNC_]

wow too cool

 

[thrifty76now]

Totally amazing finds,and just how deep were those coins?