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+--- Thread: Soemone with knowledge about antiques? (/showthread.php?tid=151661)
RE: Soemone with knowledge about antiques? - Kanzler Niemann - 07-09-2017
I would ask @Morosz since he knows a lot about old stuff and history aswell.
RE: Soemone with knowledge about antiques? - Smokey - 07-09-2017
So you've gone from:
it's definitely older than the reign of Emperor Heraaclios (610-641) (Heraclius* btw)
to;
then it's probably from the period between that year (313 AD) and 610
to;
I think the coin is a follis, a small copper or bronze coin minted since the reign of Diocletian (284-305).
If David Dickinson did that he'd be laughed out the market
RE: Soemone with knowledge about antiques? - Thunderer - 07-09-2017
Heraclios, not Heraclius. It's a Greek name. Heraclius is the Latinized version, and Latin was out of use in the Empire by his time. It was already sparsely used during the reign of Justinian I (527-565), who made quite an effort to hire someone who still spoke Latin, so all the old laws could be translated and compiled into Corpus Iuris Civilis (Body of Civil Law). Heraclios finally made Greek the official language of the Empire. His name was Ἡράκλειος', which is read as Iráklios.
The follis was minted since the reign of Diocletian, not only for its duration. Wikipedia says that it "was reintroduced as a large bronze coin in 498", so it was definitely still in use after 313, if Wikipedia is correct.
Also, there is no indication that this coin was minted after 313, because we don't know what the symbols are. @PRJKTLRD only assumed they could be Christian, but nothing is certain. If this is a follis, however, it is definitely younger than 294, because that's the year Wikipedia says the follis was introduced, if Wikipedia is correct.
We'll get a certain date when we can read the text on the coin's face, because it should say who the person printed on it is. My guess is either Valentinian I (364-375) or Theodosius I (379-395), by the look of the person.
It might not be as much of a sensation as it seems, though. Wikipedia says that the 4th century follis is the most frequently found ancient coin in Britain. I've done a search on eBay and the average sale price of a follis from the reign of Theodosius I is... 10 euros
