ANA Money Show Finds

 It has been a while since I attended a large coin show. I found a few treasures... some to buy and some to see.

for me

to see

Byzantine Coin Weight with NH or 8 Nomisma

I picked up a lot of Late Roman or Byzantine coin weights today. New to me is an Eight Solidi / Nomismata (= 8/6ths of an Ounce) = 36.4 gr. std wt. It is engraved N֯H with a series of dots. There are 36 examples of this denomination on pondera. The lot also had 4 & 2 Solidi wts.

Shown below are some weights I obtained since my last coin weight post.

Late Roman or Early Byzantine bronze coin weight

NH – 8 Nomisma or Solidi

This weight was purchased as part of a lot of 3. When I have the weight in hand, I will check weight and dimensions.

Obv – Centering indention between marks of value - N° H decorated with swirled lines, all made with punched dots

Rev - Centering indention

Edge to be determines, obv & rev have raised edges.

Late Roman / Byzantine coin weights used N֯H to indicate eight Numis / Solidus. The standard weight is 36.4 g.  There are 37 (36 bronze) 8 N weights on - https://pondera.uclouvain.be/browse/

Five Nomismata round coin weight, late Roman or Byzantine, 4^th to 6^th century AD

Obv – Engraved circle between marks of value - N° E decorated with swirled lines, all made with punched dots

Rev -  Engraved circle surrounded by 4 equally spaced dots

Edge had raised edges and center, obverse and reverse have raised edges with inscribed circle.

22.42 grams

25 mm dia X 7 mm thick

same denomination as Bendall 96

Byzantine Octagonal Bronze Weight of 4 Numismata; 800 - 1000 A.D

Obverse - N֯Δ to indicate four Numis / Solidus

Reverse - blank

18.14 grams

22 X 21 X 5 mm

NΔ - 4 Nomisma or Solidi from NBS lot

Obv – Centering indention between marks of value - N° Δ decorated with swirled lines, all made with punched dots

Rev - Centering indention and 4 dots (weight adjustment?)

Edge to be determines, obv & rev have thick raised edges.

 Late Roman / Byzantine coin weights used N֯Δ to indicate four Numis / Solidus. The standard weight is 18.2 g. Many weights, but not all, have a small o near the N. One of my weights is in lead and has only Δ and is 16.48 grams. Another weight is blank and is 15.74 g. The octagonal weight = 18.14 g. There are 88 4 N weights on - https://pondera.uclouvain.be/browse/

Three Nomismata round coin weight, Byzantine, 5^th to 6^th century AD

Obv – Engraved circle between marks of value - Ν° Γ, above cross all made with inscribed lines

Rev -  Engraved circle surrounded by 4 equally spaced dots

Edge had raised edges and center, obverse and reverse have raised edges with inscribed circle.

13.1 grams

22 mm dia X _ mm thick

similar to Bendall 145

Geneva 262

Late Roman / Byzantine coin weights used N֯ Γ to indicate 3 Numis / Solidus. The standard weight is 13.6 g. Many weights, but not all, have a small o near the N. There are 368 3 N weights on -

https://pondera.uclouvain.be/browse/

I also picked up some Greek lead weights. 

Hellenistic lead weights, 8 Dracma?

Weight: 27,9 gr

Diameter: 50,6 mm

Hellenistic lead weights 4 Dracma?

Weight: 15,8 gr

Diameter: 34 mm

Hellenistic lead weights 4 Dracma?

Weight: 12,4 gr

Diameter: 40,7 mm

Lot of 3

Four late Roman or Early Byzantine scale weights

ΓΓ – 3 Ounces or Uncia

NB – 2 (?) Nomisma or Solidi

N – 1 Nomisma or Solidi

Unknown denomination weight with mark on obverse and two inscribed circles on reverse

Semuncia Crescent Thyrsus

 I like these coins because they show the light and heavy weight series. I picked up one several years ago. I had to google Thyrse or Thyrsus or Thrysos: thyrsus: [noun] a staff surmounted by a pinecone or by a bunch of vine or ivy leaves with grapes or berries that is carried by Bacchus and by satyrs and others engaging in bacchic rites. merriam-webster

Aes Grave semuncia, APULIA, LUCERIA, AE 268-250 BC; note that this series is based on 10 VNCIA per Roman As (10 ounces per pound). There are two series. The heavier series is assumed older. Obv: Crescent; Rev: Thyrse adorned with a garland.

Apulia, Luceria, AE Aes Grave Semuncia, 268-250 BC D/ Crescent. R/ Thyrse adorned with a garland. H.pl. 71, 7-8; Syd., Aes Grave, 143 var.; T.V. 279; Vecchi 343. 19.20 grams (384 grams equivalent Libra) Green patina. Grading/Status: Fine - Very Fine; Elsen - Auction 147, Lot 270 

Greek Italy. Northern Apulia, Luceria. AE Cast Semuncia, heavy series, 225-217 BC. Obv. Crescent. Rev. Thyrsus. HN Italy 675; Vecchi ICC 343. AE. 20.22 grams (404 grams equivalent Libra); 24.00 mm. R. Rare. About VF. Artemide Kunstauktionen e18; lot 22; 5/22/2021

Greek Italy. Northern Apulia, Luceria. Light series. AE Cast Semuncia, c. 217-212 BC. Crescent. / Thyrsus with fillets; in field, L. Vecchi ICC 350; HN Italy 677f. AE. 6.04 g. 19.00 mm. Lovely untouched earthen green patina. Good VF. Artemide LIV; lot 38; 11/7/2020

Italy. Northern Apulia, Luceria. AE Semuncia, 217-212 BC. Obv. Crescent. Rev. Thyrsus with fillets; in field, L. HN Italy 677f. TV 286. ICC 350. AE. g. 6.68 mm. 20.00 VF. Artemide 32e; lot 15; 1/23/2016

rrd's top 10 of 2021, or panic buying in a pandemic

 

rrd top 10 2021

1.     Aes Grave Dupondius 230-220 BC, Semi-Libral standard. Volaterrae (Etruria) mint. Obv - Janiform head of Culsans, wearing pointed petasus; Rev - Club; I I (mark of value) across field; around Etruscan retrograde legend - FEΛA-OΔI (velaθri); 266 grams, 73 mm

2.     II VNCIA, ૪ B bronze barrell weight - commercial scale weight, late Roman or early Byzantine, Sextans or two VNCIA; on the top, the value is shown in Greek script, ૪ B. The Latin II VNCIA is extremely unusual and shown on the side; 24.6 mm max dia X 20.5 mm min dia X 14.5 mm tall; 53.23 grams (319.4 eq As)

 

3.     Cast AE Nummus (As), Apulia, Luceria, 225-217 BC; Obv - Head Apollo left, hair tied with ribbon; below chin – mark of value: I; Rv. Rooster standing left. Most books list 3 variations on this coin. Two types have letters around the rooster: L.SEXTI.SEP.BABI or M.LAVINIO. A third type, this coin, has no letters; 214.5 grams, 66 X 14.6 mm

4.     27 Nomismata (4.5 uncia) Byzantine bronze coin weight, octagonal, disc-shaped; Obv: N° KZ, decorated with two double circular lines, above the N is a small zero. Nomistmata weights place the zero above or to the right of N. 116.9 grams, 49.3 X 7.3 mm. The denomination is rare. There are no examples in Pondera. The weight is similar to a 17 N weight purchased in the same lot. The weight is shown with a denarius of Geta for comparison.

 

27 N (N° KZ) and 17 N (N° IZ)

 

5.     Roman Republic, Aes Grave, Apollo/Apollo Series, Cast Triens, Rome, 270 BC; Obverse - Head of horse r.; below, °°°°; Reverse - Same type l. 114 grams, 50 mm, 12 H, Crawford 18/3. I wish the 4 dots were more prominent. Otherwise the coin is excellent.

6.     Olbia AE 68 Gorgoneion Eagle - The coin below covers 3 and a half of the fingers on my hand. It is big. CNG notes the patina was removed. That is not obvious at first glance, but is glaring when I take pics. I think Medusa sticking out her tongue is neat. The coin was sold twice by CNG.

7.     Roman / Byzantine Four Ounce Commercial Scale Weight; 100 - 500 AD  Obverse – 4 dots; the rest of the surface is hard to see. If the scale weight is 4 uncia it would have Г^o Δ. Reverse – Cross? +? The mark on the weight, +,  is similar to the mark on a Semis of C. Curiatius f. Trigeminus, see below. Dating depends on how you read the reverse. 105.7 grams.

a.      I found this weight at H Berk online while searching for other 4 ounce scale weights. I had to have it.... so it is #7.a. Byzantine Round Commercial Bronze Weight; 4-Ounces (Triens) or 24-Nomismata / Solidii; 6th-7th cent. AD. I wish there was a way to convert Bф into 4 or 24.   

8.     Double Struck Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, AE Oktobol, Hockey Puck; Ptolemy III Euergetes; Obv: Laureate head of Zeus Ammon right, border dots. Rev: Eagle with open wings standing left on thunderbolt, looking right; E between legs. ΠTOΛEMAI[OY] BAΣIΛ[EΩΣ]; 80.8 grams; 46 mm dia X 7.5 mm thick

9.     Roman Republican struck Uncia, Obv: Radiate and draped bust of Sol facing slightly right; pellet (mark of value) to left. Rev: Pellet (mark of value) and two stars within crescent, in ex ROMA; Crawford 39/4; 12.75 grams, 23 mm

10.  APULIA, LUCERIA, AE Aes Grave semuncia, 268-250 BC; Obv: Crescent, Rev: Thyrse adorned with a garland.19.20 grams. I like this coin because it has an equivalent Nummis (or As in 10 ounce system of Luceria) of 384 grams which is well above one Roman pound. Heavy indicates an early series.

1. Dupondius Etruria Volterrae

2. Two VNCIA barrel weight

3. Nummus Apollo Rooster

4. 27 Num/Sol coin wt, 17, 12, 10

5. Triens Horse Head / horse head

6. Olbia AE 68 Gorgoneion Eagle

7. Four Uncia commercial weights (two pieces)

8. PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Octobol

9. Uncia Sol / moon and stars

10. Luceria Cast Semuncia heavy series Crescent Thyrsus 400g equiv As

Next few:

11. Teruncius Stingray Dolphin

12. Sextans wolf & twins

13. one As commercial weight & half As commercial weight - the top two were bought as a lot from Gorny & Mosch. Shown below are weights from previous years. 

Byzantine Coin Weights

 Roman and Byzantine scale weights are broken into two groups by denomination marks, or the weight of the piece when no marks are visible. Coin weight denominations are in solidus (the standard gold coin from late Roman times) & Nomisma. The table below gives coin weights and their symbols. Most of the weights abbreviate Nomisma with a large N and a small o and follow with a number symbolized by Greek letters. Commercial weight denominatios are in units of Roman pounds (Libra or Ass) and ounces (VNCIA or Uncia). One pounds equals 12 ounces or 72 solidi.

The top pic shows recent acquisitions. From top left: 27 Nomisma, No KZ; 17 Nomisma, No IZ; 12 Nomisma, No IB; 10 Nomisma, No I; 6 Nomisma, No S; 5 Nomisma, Δ; 3 Nomisma, No Γ; 2 Nomisma, No B; 1 Nomisma, No (sometimes shown as No A. 

I am not sure of the denomination of the weight marked T. I thought it might be for a light weight solidus, but the weight is heavier than the other N weights. 

The pic below adds a few duplicates to the pic above. The only new denomination is the half Nomisma, IB; in the lower left corner. 

Sol	Letters
23/24	XXIII
1	N, NA, T; S, SOL-I
2	NB
3	NΓ; SOL-III
4	NΔ; Δ
5	NE;
6	NS; S, SOL-VI; SOL- ζ; -I / SOL- ζ
7	NZ
8	NH
9	Nθ
10	NI
12	NIB
15	NIE
17	NIZ
18	NIH, SOL XςII
20	NK
24	NKΔ
26	NKS
27	NKZ
30
36	NAS; S-XXXζ
72	NOB; SOL LXXII

Roman Scale Weight and Aes Grave collections

 

Largest to left (one As) and oldest to top (VNCIA series)

Obverse

Reverse

Aes Grave on 3 pages. On each page the oldest is to the top and largest denomination is to the left. Some pieces and extras are shown on the bottom of the 3rd page.

At the start of cast bronze coinage, the weights of coins and scale weights were probably the same. Scale weights stayed about the same for a millennium. Coin weights dropped quickly due to inflation and bronze use in the Carthaginian war.  

An early and heavy semuncia of Hatria

 H AΣ Hatria Semuncia

ROMAN REPUBLIC

PICENUM, HATRIA, AE semuncia, vers 280 av. J.-C.

Obverse - H

Reverse - AΣ

H. pl. 76, 17-19;

Sydenham, Aes Grave, 193;

T.V. 187.

CGC Huntarian, Picenium, Hartia #3

18.03 grams; equivalent As = 20 X 18 = 360 grams, see note below

28.7 X 27.3 mm

3 H, see note below

Patine verte.

Beau à Très Beau

Fine - Very Fine

 Notes

1.  Roman Republican bronze coins were based on an As of 327 grams that was divided into 12 ounces, VNCIA. Hatria based their bronze coins on 10 units to the As. A semuncia is half an ounce. 

2.  Most of my Aes Grave, cast bronze coins, have a die rotation of 12 o'clock. This is the only coin I have that has a rotation of 3 o'clock.

Purchased from Jean Elsen & ses Fils S.A.

http://www.elsen.eu/