three seventh-century byzantine gold hoards / william e. metcalf
TRANSCRIPT
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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
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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
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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 .
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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