Three seventh-century Byzantine gold hoards / William E. Metcalf

8/9/2019 Three seventh-century Byzantine gold hoards / William E. Metcalf

1/15

ANSMN 25 1980)

1980

The

Amer ican N um ismat ic Soc ie ty

THREESEVENTH CENTURY

BYZANTINE

GOLDHOARDS

PLATES

12-13)

W I L L I M

E . M E T C L F

Despite

th e

re la t ive abundance

of

late sixth-

and

seventh-century

Byzant ine solidi, there

are few

hoards

of

these

coins on

record. T his

op-

portuni ty

istherefore

taken

to

record three hoards

of the

period.

Of the

three,

only one is of part icular interest , and there are the usual un-

certainties regarding

provenance

and integri ty; but i t

seems sure

on the

basis

of

internal evidence

that

there

has at least

been

nocontamina t ion

by

addit ion

of

later

material .

T he author ha s seen only a few coins

from

any o f the hoards. T he

record published

here

is based on notes made by Joan M . Fagerlie,

formerly

Curator of R o m a n and Byzan t i ne

Coins

at the

American N u-

mismatic Society, and on photographs madeb y

Michael

D iBiase and

Joseph Garcia.

T he

coins were

generously lent to the museum fo r

study

by

Pau l

Z .

Bedoukian.

H O A R D

l

1

This

hoard is

said

to have

been

discovered in the village of Afrus

Afrine) in

February 1965.

In the catalogues of this and the

following

hoards, DOC has been used s the

principal

work

of reference, since it is niore accessible and niore suited to the

purpose

than Hahn W. Hahn, onela Imperii Bijzanlini l and 2,D e n k s c h r i f t ender

ster-

87


2/15

88 W I L L I A M E . M E T C A L F

J U S T I N I A N I

Obv

DNIVSTINI ANVSPPAVC

Helmeted cuirassed bust facin g holding in r. globus

cruciger; on 1.

shoulder

shield with

horseman device.

Reu V I C T O R I AAVCCC followed by

officina numeral.

Angel

facing

in

tunic

and

pallium;

in

r.,

f; in L,

globus.

In

r.

field star.

I n ex. C O NO B

1.

4 47 i O f f .A DOCl, 9a 545-565)

2. 4.46l O f f .6 T hree pelletson breastplate. 9i

3. 4.381 O f f . l 9j

J U S T I N I I

Obv DNI VSTI NVSPPAVI

Helmeted cuirassed bust facing holding in r. globus

surmounted

by

crowning Victory;

on 1.

shoulder shield

with horseman device.

Reu V I C T O R I A A V C C C followed by

officina

numeral.

Constantinople

seated looking

r.

with

staff in r. and

globus

cruciger in 1. In ex., C O N O B

4. 4.50 Off. 0 DOC l, 4h 565-578)

T l B E R I U S II

Obv TTlTIbCONS

TANTPPAVI

Crowned cuirassed bust facing holding in r. globus cruci-

ger;

on 1.

shoulder shieldwith horseman device.

Reu

V I C T O R IA A V C C

followed

by

officina numeral.

Crosspotenton foursteps. Inex.,C O N O B

reichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften vols. 109 and 119 [Vienna 1973 and1975]).

Whereavarietyis not recordedby Hahn thisis notedin the entry. The form DOC

5-

indicatesa

coin

of

unrecorded officina

of the

main

type ofDOC 5.

Coins marked

withan asterisk are illustrated on Plates

12-13.

B Y Z A N T I N E G

5. 4.45

i

O f f .

6. 4.43O f f .

S

7.

4.40

O f f .S

8. 4.37 O ff. S

Obv

Reu

9. 4.48

10.

4.44

11.

4.41

12. 4.27

13.

4.42

14. 4.31

15.

4.54

16.

4.49

17. 4.41

18. 4.50

19. 4.43

Obu

Reu.

20.* 4.50

Obv

Reu.

21. 4.48

22.*4.45

23. 4.38

24.

4.39

25. 4.45

26. 4.32

M A U

ONTT AVRCTIBPPAV

Helmeted cuirassed

cruciger; over

1.

sho

V I C T O R I A A V C C foll

Angel facing in tunic

in 1.globus cruciger.

/ O f f .A

/ O f f .B

/

O f f .

B

/

O f f .

A

i O f f .

S

i

O f f .

S

/ O f f .

S

i O f f .Z

i O f f .

H

O ff . Obscure .

Similar.

Similar

but in r. field

O f f .6 Hahn

Similar

but

head muc

Similar

to

nos. 9-19.

O f f .

B

In

field

r.,

J

O f f . B

O f f .

O f f . Z

O f f . H

O f f . 9


3/15

90

W I L L I A M E . M E T C A L F

P H O C A S

Obv

ONFOCAS

P6RPAVI

Bust

crowned, cuirassed with paludamentum; in r.,

globus cruciger.

Reu.:

V I C T O R I

A A V C C

followed by officina numera l .

Angel

facing

in

tun ic

an d

pall ium

Holding in r. f and

in 1.

g lobus

cruciger.

In ex.

C O N O B

27.

4.46

O f f .

A DOC2, l, 5d 603-607)

28 .

4.46

O f f .

l 5j

Obv.: Similar but

N

f o r O N

Rev.: V C T O R I A

A V f H

followed

by officina

numeral.

Similar

type.

29.

4.48

4

O f f .

0

DOC

2, l, lO i

607-610)

TABLE I

Frequency TableHoard l

Carats

Justinian l

Justin

II

Tiberius

II

Maurice Pliocas Total

23-1/2

23

22-1/2

22

2

1

1

1

3

8

3

7

3

15

11

3

Mean Wl 4.44 4 5

4.41 4 43 4 47

4 43

T he date of

deposit

and loss can be

fixed within fairly

narrow

limits,

since the hoard contains no coins from the

substantial

first issue of

Heraclius bu t does include a single example of the V I C T O R I A A V 7 H

issue of Phocas,

which

there ar e good grounds for assigning to 607

and

after.

2

A s usual, most of the

coins were struck during

t he

quarter-century

or

so prior

to

deposit;

th e

earlier coins

of

Justinian

I and

Justin

I I may owe

their inclusion

totheir

relatively high

weights.

2

T he

in troduclion

o f

the V I C T O R I A

A V 7 H

legend

has

becn

associated by

Grierson DO C 2, l, p. 148) wilh

Phocas

repud ia l io n

of

the idea of collcgiality;

he has becn followed by H ahn (vol. 2 , p . 76)wh o also notcsthat607 was a lustralyear.

B Y Z A N T IN E

H O

This hoardis said to have

been

5 km from Antakya, in September

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

M A U

Obv.:

ONTTIAVRC

TlbPPAV

Helmeted cuirassed

cruciger; over

1.

shou

V I C T O R I A A V C C

fol

Angel

facing

in

tunic

and in 1.

globus cruc

1. 4.35 O f f .

S

Large bust

Rev.:

Obv.:

Rev.:

4.45

4.42

4.46

4.40

4.34

4.42

Obv. :

Rev.:

8.

4.44

9.

4.43

10.

4.45

11.

4.44

P H

ONFOCAS P6RPAVI

Bust

crowned, cuir

globus cruciger.

V I C T O R I

A A V C C fo

Angel

facing in tunic

globus cruciger. In e

O f f .

B

O f f T

O f f . S

O ff . S

O ff . S

Same obv.

Same obv.

Same obv.

ff .

O bscure. Sam

Similar

but

N

f o r O

V I C T O R I

A A V 7 V fol

Similar type.

Of f .

f f . 6

O ff .

O f f .


4/15

92

WI L L I AM E. MET C AL F

B Y Z A N T I N E G

25.

26.

27.

Obv :

Rev :

4.45

4.46

.

4.41

28.*

4.54

10g

10g

10g

10g

10h

lO i

lO i

10J

10J

10J

DOC

2, l,

lOe.

6-7

H E R A C L I U S

d d

NNh

RACLIHS 7

h

R

ACONS?

PP

VC

To L,bustof Heraclius with shortbeard wearing chlamys

and crown with cross; to r., similar bust of Heraclius

Constantine,

beardless. Above,cross.

3

V I C T O R I A AV /H fo l lowed by off icina numeral.

Cross potent on base and three

steps.

In ex.

4 Off. A DOC 2, l, 13a 6

Off.ASame obv.die

s

no. 36. 13a

Off.A 13d

l Off. Rev. legend I V C T O R I A ;in ex. 13d

C O M O B

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

4.44

4.41

4.39

4.33

4.31

4.44

4.41

4.51

4.41

4.25

Obv :

Rev :

4.48

4.42

4.43

/

1

1

1

1

4

\L

lA

1

Off.

Off.

O f f .

O f f .

O f f .

O f f .

O f f .

Off.

Off.

Off.

Similar

Z

Z

z

z

H

0

0

bu t N N fo r N

Similar.

1

/

4

O f f .

Off.

Off.

3 T he problems in

classifying

th e large

series

of

solidi

of

H eraclius

an d

Heraclius

Constantinehave not yc tbeen

whollysolved;

the

latest

discu ssion is

that

of Grierson

in DO C

2, l, pp.

221-23.

I am no tconvinced

that

th e distinction

between

simple

an d

elaborate crowns

has any

chronological significance,

an d

have

no t

made

it in

ordering the catalogue, although appropriate D O C references are given. Th e distinc-

tion between small

and

large busts

of

Heraclius Co nstantine

ha s

been made,however,

and the catalogue is arranged accordingly.

m

29.

4.48 4

1 30

4.454

\

\.

4.361

32.

4.501

33. 4.46

4

34. 4.45 4

35. 4.424

36.

4.49 4

37. 4.351

38. 4.481

39.

4.321

40.

4.451

6-7

l

Obv

:

6 7

5-7

chlamys

j

ieraclius

CONOB

5-ca.625)

^ar.

Heraclius

f Grierson

i

simple

made it in

he distinc-

, however,

Rev :

41. 4.411

Obv :

Rev :

42.*

4.42

1

43*4.41

4

Obv :

Rev :

44.

4.521

45. 4.471

46.*

4.45

1

47.*4.33

1

Obv :

Rev :

48.

4.431

49. 4.531

Obv :

Off .

O f f .

6

O f f . Moreelabo

Off .

S

Of f . S

O f f . S

Same obv.

Off .

Z

Of f . H Same obv.d

Off .

H

Off . 0

Off . 0

Same obv.

Off . Obscure.

Similar.

Similar but 0 af ter o

Off .

l

Similar.

Similar to nos.

25-4

Off .

Tor., 0

Off .

T o r., l

Similar but largerbu

Similar

to

nos.

25-40

O f f . A Same obv.

s

no. 45.

Of f .

A Same obv.

Off . H

Off . H

Similar.

Similar, but addition

scription.

At end, 10

A t

end,

I K

ddNNhR CLIMS^

To L,

bust

of

Hera

wearing chlamys

an


5/15

94 W I L L I A M E . M E T C A L F

bust of Heracl ius Constant ine

with

slight beard an d

moustache. Above,

cross.

Reu.: V I C T O R I A

A H f H

fol lowed by officina numeral .

Cross potent on

base

and

three steps.

In

ex.,

C O N O B

50 .

4.53

4

O f f .

A S am eobv.di e

s

no.

54 . DOC 2, l, 26a 629-631)

51. 4.45 4 O f f .S DOC2, l, 26g var.

52 . 4.541 O f f . l 26j

53.

4.48

J

O f f .

l 26j

54 .

4.45

l

O f f .

l

Same obv.

diesno. 50. 26j

Obu.: N o

inscription.

I ncenter,

Heraclius

with

mous tache

and

long

beard;

on r.,

Heracl ius

C o n s L a n n e ,

beardless;

o n L ,

m u ch

smaller, Heraclonas. Each wears chlamys

and

holds globus cruciger; Heracl ius and H eracl ius C ons tan t ine

wear crowns with crosses, Heraclonas

a

cap, above

which

a

cross.

Reu.: V I C T O R I A A W H

fol lowed

by officina

numeral . C ross

potent on base an d

three steps.

In field

r.,

f c . In ex.,

C O N O B

55.

4.49

56.*

4.50

Obv.;

l

O f f .

A

j o f f . r

DOC

2, l, 33a var

632-635?)

33-

C N S T A N S

II

57.

58.

59.

N C O N S ^ A N

^ I N H SP P A V

Bust

of

Cons tans

I I

with long beard

and

mous tache,

wearing chlamys and crown

with

cross on

circlet.

In

r.,

globus cruciger.

Reu.:

V I C T O R I A A W H

fol lowed

by

officina numeral .

Cross

potent

on

base

and three steps. I n

ex.,

C O N O B

4.45

l

O f f .

A DOC2, 2, 19a 651-654)

4.47

O f f .

T

19 c

4.47

O f f .S 19f

Obu.:

T o L ,

bust

of

C on s tan s

I I

with long beard

an d

mous tache;

to r.,

bust

of

Cons tan t ine

IV ,

beardless. Ea ch wears

B Y Z A N T J N I ;

Reu.:

chlamys and crown

cross.

Similar.

60.

61.

O f f .

A

O fL

. 3 5 4

4 . 3 8 4

O b u

V V C O N > T [

Similar, but

plunie

b

Reu.:

V I C T O R I A

A W H

f

Long cross

potent on

to

r., T iber ius s ta

ch lamys

and crown w

In

ex. C O N O B

62.*

4.39

/

Off . obscure .

Semissis

Obu NCONS^AN ^INHS

Bust of Cons tans I I r

Reu.:

V I C T O R I A

AW H S

Crosspotent on

glob

63.

2 18|

C O N S T A

Obu.:

V ar iab le l egend . B

wearing cuirass

and

ties

to L; in

r.,

spe

shield

wi th horseman

Reu.:

V I C T O A

A

V7

H follo

Cross

potent on

bas

to r.,

T iberius . Each

an d holds globus cru

64 .

4.42

4

O f f .

l

O b v .

DNCO

creston helmet.

65. 4.301

O f f . O bscure . O b


6/15


7/15


8/15


9/15


10/15

4

Reu.:

17.

18.

19.

13. 4.29

l

Obv.:

Reu.:

14.*4.25

Obu.:

Reu.:

15.

4.33

16. 4.24l

4.28

i

4.27i

4.20

20. 4.20

21.

4.27

Obv.:

Rev.:

22.*

4.44l

23.

4.29 4

24.* 4.40

Obv.:

Rev.:

25. 4.36

Obv.:

Rev.:

26.*4.27

Obv.:

W I L L I A M E . M E T C A L F

V I CTO RI A A H f H

fol lowed by off ic ina

numeral .

Cross po ten t o n base and three steps. In

f ield

r., f c ;

in ex.,C O N O B

O f f

B DOC 2, l, 33b 632-635)

Similar, but H erac lo nas larger . Cross s ti l l detached .

Similar.

O f f

Z DO 2, l, 34- (635/6)

Similar, but H e r a c l o n a s c r own ed , a n d n o cross in f ield .

Similar,

but

in field 1.

O f f B DOC 2, l, 43a (639-641)

O f f T

O f f 6

O f f 6

O f f

O f f

O f f Obscure .

Similar.

Similar,but inf ield r.

O f f

O f f H

O f f 9

43b

43d

43d

43d

43d

43

D O C 2, l 44- 639-641)

44f

44-

C O N S T A N S II

NCONS7AN

INHSPPAV

Bust

o f

Cons t an s

I I

f acing, beardless,

wear ing ch lamys

and c rown wi th cross on circlet. In r., globus cruciger.

V I C T O R I A

A

W H fol lowed b y o f f i c ina n umera l .

Cross

poten t on base and three steps. In

ex.,

C O N O B

O f f B ,

DOC

2, 2,

la

641-646)

Similar.

Similar, but inex., C O N O B C

O f f l DOC 2, 2, 2-

641-646)

Similar, but C onstan s wi th shor t beard .

Rev.: Similar to no. 25.

B Y Z A N T I N E

G O L

27.*4.21

28.

4.38

O f f A

O f f S

Obv .: Similar .

Reu.:

Similar , but in ex., C O N

29. 4.34

O f f

Obv.:

Similar ,

but

bust wi th

l o

Rev.: Similar to no. 25.

30.

4.331 O f f . T

31.

4.31

O f f .

H

32. 4.24 O f f .6

Obv.:

Similar.

Rev.: Similar,

but in f ield r.,

33. 4.27

34 .

4.24

35.*

4.19

36.

4.22

Obv . :

Reu.:

O f f

O f f

O f f

H

O f f

l

37.*

4.27

38.

4.40

1

39. 4.33|

40.

4.44

[

Obv .

V ar iable legend . To L,b

and moustache; to r., bu

Each wears chlamys an

Between heads, cross.

V I C T O R I A

A W H

fol low

Cross

po ten t

o n

base

an

or variant.

O f f B In ex., C O N O

N M C

O f f

O b v .

N C O

O f f S O b v .

N C O N

O f f

Obscure . O b v .

Variable legend; similar

of Constans.

Rev.:

V I C T O R I A A W H

fo l low

Long

cross potent o n ba

clius;to r., Tiberius stan


11/15


12/15

108

W I L L I M E . M E T C L F

of f i c i na , apparently from

th e

same dies s

th e

British

M u s e u m

c o i n ;13

an d o n e w ei gh i n g

4.15 g . - f r o m

o f f i c i n a H w hi c h w a s

a c q u i r e d

by the

A N S in 1968, and which shares its obverse die with O'Hara's piece.14

O 'H ara w a sfol lowed by M . F . H endy in t a k i n g th e S t a n d a r dof the f irst

tw o

pieces

s 23siliquae but the weights of a ll

specimens

so fa r

k n o w n

fa l l c o m f o r t a b l y in the 22

siliquaernge.15

Coin Ga lleriesFPL l (1968)A 59,

we i g h t

unstated.

14ANS68.151, f o r m e r l y in the Bu r t o n Y. Berry collect ion .

15

M . F.

H e n d y , L i g h t We i g h t So l i d i , Te t a r t e r a ,

a n d

B o o k

o f

th e P r e f e c t , BZ

65

(1972),pp.57-80, esp.

58-59.


13/15


14/15


15/15

Three seventh-century Byzantine gold hoards / William E. Metcalf

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Transcript of Three seventh-century Byzantine gold hoards / William E. Metcalf