John III Doukas Vatatzes, Gold, Nomisma Hyperpyron, Magnesia, 1232?
Obverse
Christ, bearded and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion, seated upon backless throne. Right hand raised in benediction, Gospels in left hand. To left and right, IC̅ XC̅.
KE[ ]-HΘEI
Reverse
Half-length figure of John III Doukas Vatatzes on left and of Virgin nimbate on right. Emperor wears stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and paneled loros of simplified type. Labarum on long shaft in right hand, akakia in left hand. Virgin wears tunic and maphorion. Θ above, and ̅ in right field.
]-|ΠO|V|PΓ|NT|T
Obverse
Christ, bearded and nimbate, wearing tunic and kolobion, seated upon backless throne. Right hand raised in benediction, Gospels in left hand. To left and right, IC̅ XC̅.
KE[ ]-HΘEI
Reverse
Half-length figure of John III Doukas Vatatzes on left and of Virgin nimbate on right. Emperor wears stemma, divitision, collar-piece, and paneled loros of simplified type. Labarum on long shaft in right hand, akakia in left hand. Virgin wears tunic and maphorion. Θ above, and ̅ in right field.
]-|ΠO|V|PΓ|NT|T
| Accession number | BZC.2006.43 |
|---|---|
| Ruler | John III Doukas Vatatzes |
| Date of Reign | 1221–1254 |
| Metal | Gold |
| Denomination | Nomisma Hyperpyron |
| Mint | Magnesia |
| Date | 1232? |
| Diameter | 29.0 mm |
| Weight | 4.42 g |
| Relation of Dies | 6:00 |
| Shape | Cup |
| Condition | 81.4% Au; 15.6% Ag; 2.9% Cu; 271 ppm Pb; 26 ppm Pt (analyzed in IRAMAT-CNRS Orléans by LA-ICP-MS) |
Acquisition History
From Baldwin’s Stock, 28 February 2006
Commentary
This coin is part of the Transitional Coinage (B). Cf. DOC 4.2:483, no. (3.2).
D. A. Squires, “Unpublished Transitional Hyperpyra of John III Vatatzes,” 1013, fig. 2, and, for details, figs. 3b, 4b, 5b, and 6b.