Byzantine Class A1 Anonyous Folles: A complicated overstrike

Class A1 coins are overstruck on previous issues, mostly coins of Nicephorus II (963-969, the previous emperor), Constantine VII, or Romanus I (the emperors before that). Often the undertype is obvious, and often it is not so obvious. Here is a Class A1 that is clearly overstruck which may have two undertypes.

How to find undertypes:  Byzantine copper was usually struck with a 6:00 die axis. When the obverse is upright, the reverse is upside down. If the orientation of an undertype is clear from some bit of it remaining, this fact can be used to orient the other side so remains of it can be sought. Each of the four photo below uses this principle to orient the other side. 

The coin is 27-26 mm, but thin and only 4.17 grams. The light weight and two dots in the nimbus assure it is Class A1.


The usual orientation for Class A1.
The obverse has signs of undertypes at 4:00-5:00 very near the rim and at 8:30 near the rim, as well as letters from 2:30 to 4:00 inside the beading, and possible letters at the nimbus slanting downward to the right.

The reverse has signs of undertypes at 12:00 near the rim (a +), 3:00-5:30 near the rim (letters), across the field from 11:00 toward 2:00 (letters). 

 

 


Near the bottom of the reverse a horizontal line of letters indicates an undertype with a four-line legend. At 12:30 on the obverse (in this orientation) there is small + that might be the top of the crown of the undertype. Also, at 5:00-6:00 thre might be the right side of the bust of an undertype. 

 


Earlier types often have the emperor's bust with a + topping his crown. If this obverse + is one of those, it is hard to see anything else which confirms it.

 

 


The reverse in this orientation shows "ASILE" at 12:30 to 2:30 near the rim. Possibly there is a + just to the left of the A. This is compatible with that undertype being the obverse of Sear 1783 or 1782 (Nicephorus II) or 1760 (Romanus I). Look at 5:50-6:30 near the rim. The dots could be on the left part of the bottom of the bust.

 



Return to the page on Class A folles.