Byzantine Coins Research Articles

Ornamented stirrup from the elite early Medieval burial at Balyk-Sook (Central Altai)

The article presents an ornamented iron stirrup from a rich and noble early Medieval burial in the Balyk-Sook area in the central part of the Russian Altai. This burial is unique not only for South Siberia, but also for neighbor-ring regions, as within it, with the warrior, four horses and protective armour were found. During the course of restoration work, it was established that the arcs and the plate loop of the stirrup were originally gilded and en-graved with complex floral ornamentation, the stirrup foot was decorated with gold wire inlay in the form of floral curls. This is the first find of such type in Altai. The burial containing the stirrup was radiocarbon dated to the sec-ond half of the 7th — third quarter of the 8th c. The author provides a wide range of similarities among the “status” or “ceremonial” stirrups from funerary and memorial sites of nomadic nobility, including the Kagans from South Siberia, Central Asia, and Eastern and Central Europe, including the such sites of Kagan status as Shoroon Bumbagar in Central Mongolia and Yeleke sazy in Eastern Kazakhstan, Uibat and Tashebinsk Chaatases in the Minusinsk Basin, the Pereshchepinsk hoard and the Voznesenka memorial complex in Eastern Europe, rich Avar burials in Central Europe, and others. Massive and high stirrups with a plate loop were specifically considered during the Medieval period as “status” stirrups, and in some cases they were additionally decorated with orna-mentation. They could be cast in gold or silver, covered with gold or silver leaf, decorated with complex ornamen-tation in various techniques, or decorated with shaped cuts in the stirrup foot. While Avar stirrups, based on Byzan-tine coins in burials, are dated to the late 6th — early 7th c., radiocarbon dating and analogies show that Central Asian stirrups belong to a later period — second half of the 7th — 8th c., and in some cases to the 9th c. Highly ornamented stirrups from the monuments of South Siberia and Central Asia were probably made on order by Chinese masters for the Turkic-speaking nobility, or may have been received as diplomatic gifts from Tang China.

Was the Supernova of 1054 CE Recorded in Constantinople? A Historical and Astronomical Reassessment

This paper critically reexamines two candidate records of the supernova of 1054 CE (SN 1054) that allegedly came from Constantinople, integrating historical and astronomical analyses. East Asian records documented SN 1054 in detail and formed the basis for astronomical discussions. In contrast, few reports of SN 1054 from Western Eurasia (Europe and West Asia) are known. The majority of such alleged reports have been rejected on the basis of philological and astronomical discussions. This study scrutinizes two potential accounts of SN 1054. The first is Ibn Buṭlān’s account, as cited in a later work. The second is a specific class of Byzantine gold coin issued in Constantinople, which may have commemorated SN 1054. Our reanalysis of Ibn Buṭlān’s record questions its connection to Constantinople. We also challenge speculation regarding the Byzantine coin, analysing contemporary historical and numismatic backgrounds. The paper also compares these accounts with the reconstructed SN light curve and modern astronomical calculations to assess the astronomical aspect of these records.

Byzantine coins from village Darchidzeebi (Shuakhevi municipality)

Byzantine coins from village Darchidzeebi (Shuakhevi municipality)

ON THE MONETARY UNITS IN THE GRAFITO 25 FROM ST. SOPHIA CATHEDRAL IN KYIV

In the paper the author attempts to analyze the little-known monetary units of the 12th century mentioned in the grafito 25 from St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv. Grafito was discovered in the Apostles’ side-chapel of the Cathedral by Ukrainian researcher Dr. Sergey Vysotsky. Grafito reports about the purchase of «Boyan’s land» by Vsevolozha Princess for «seventy grivny sobolii» or «seven hundred dranits». There is no consensus on the dating of the inscription in historiography, different authors date it since the early until the second part of 12th century (identified with the widow of Vsevolod Olgovich, who died in 1179 or second wife of Vsevolod Yaroslavich, after 1111). The analysis of written sources, linguistic, numismatic and archeological data allows the author to suppose the equivalent of «dranits» and Byzantine scyphate (concave) gold coins. Money hoards and single finds show the important part of the golden Byzantine scyphate coins of 12th—14th centuries in the economic and cultural life in the Rus. Such coins are absolutely dominated in the finds of the gold coins in Ukrainian lands. Treasures with gold Byzantine coins of 11th—12th centuries were found with decorations and the gold ingots and silver grivnas in Kyiv (once near St. Sophia Cathedral). Byzantine gold coins with different gold purity were brought to Rus and were the main source for the gold ingot and decoration. Byzantine gold coins appeared to be the main currency in the international transactions but also in the local large payments in Rus. The monetary systems of the Old Rus principalities were established on the basis of the Byzantine monetary system. Litra of gold was fixed in the Old Rus sources.

Ancient and Byzantine Coins from the N. K. Minko’s Collection (State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals). Part II. Bosporus, Late Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire

Ancient and Byzantine Coins from the N. K. Minko’s Collection (State Historical Museum of the Southern Urals). Part II. Bosporus, Late Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire

Roman and Byzantine coins from the former collection of fr. Edmund Majkowski in the collection of the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz

Roman and Byzantine coins from the former collection of fr. Edmund Majkowski in the collection of the Leon Wyczółkowski District Museum in Bydgoszcz

Paradise Lost: Gold Coins from the Underworld

In 2011, the Mongolian and Kazakhstan joint expedition, dates approximately to the seventh century (A.D. 650–670), excavated a tomb of Shoroon Bumbagar, decorated with a wall painting, in Bayannuur sum of Bulgan province. The structure of the Shoroon Bumbagar tomb, murals and burial objects clearly exhibit tastes of nomads who resided along the Silk Roads and the Steppe Route. Comparing to funerary art traditions in East Asia such as Chinese and Koguryo mural tombs, it represents nomadic culture as well as the broad interactions from Byzantine Empire to China. With wall paintings and burial objects, this newly excavated mural tomb in Mongolia reveals significant information about the cultural exchanges between nomads and settled people along the Silk Roads. The burial objects excavated from the tomb include male and female figurines, either standing or riding on a horse, two tomb guardian figures, two tomb guardian animal figures, animal figurines, gold and bronze objects, fragments of a golden floral crown ornament, and Byzantine coins of the Emperor Heraclius, dated around the 630s. It is certain that the remarkable new findings from the tomb would bring a new perspective in the study of the history of tombs and demonstrates cultural exchanges and transmissions of the funerary arts of Asia along the Silk Roads.

:Metal Finds and Coins: Final Publications from the Danish-German Jerash Northwest Quarter Project II

:<i>Metal Finds and Coins: Final Publications from the Danish-German Jerash Northwest Quarter Project II</i>

Frühmittelalterliche byzantinische Kupfermünzen aus dem Raum von Orosháza (Komitat Békés, Ungarn)

Abstract In this paper we present and analyse the 6th–7th-century Byzantine coins found at Orosháza and its surroundings. The first Byzantine coin – a follis of Justinian I – was found in Szentetornya in 1877. Using metal detectors during archaeological survey eight Byzantine coins had come to light: a follis of Justinian I, five folles, a half-follis of Justin II, and two folles of Heraclius. A greater part of them was accurately identified. Here we'll analyse their role outside the Byzantine Empire, as compared to the coin circulation in the Avar Age Carpathian Basin. We try to answer the question why Byzantine coins relatively frequently occurred at Orosháza and its surroundings.

Finds of Byzantine Coins in the Collection of the Moravian Museum. A Contribution to the Completion of the Register of Byzantine Coins in Moravia / Znaleziska monet bizantyńskich w kolekcji Morawskiego Muzeum Krajowego. Przyczynek do uzupełnienia rejestru monet bizantyńskich na Morawach

Finds of Byzantine coins on the territory of Moravia are generally rare, and those kept in the numismatic collection of the Moravian Museum (Brno, Czech Republic) are far from numerous. The collection contains 11 individual finds and one small hoard from a period spanning the 5th to the 13th century. They were acquired mostly during the 1950s–1970s. Some of the finds have been already published in the past, others remain unpublished or only brief information without a detailed description has been published. The aim of this paper is the completion of the information on finds of Byzantine coins on the historical territory of Moravia or, as the case may be, a more precise determination of the discovered coins.

«Брактеаты» и «индикации» в контексте монетной традиции Великого Шелкового пути (на примере находки 1989 г. в Сиане)

The proposed article publishes a little-known imprint of gold foil from China — the imitation of the Byzantine coin, presumably Anastasia I. The arcticle also considers other finds of this kind and terminology of coin-like products, dividing them into three groups: gold coins weighing about 4.5 gr.; lightweight copies of Byzantine coins, called imitations; impressions of Byzantine coins, called indications. Today more than a hundred of the above-mentioned goods have been discovered in China, called "bracteates' by Chinese researchers. Initially, it was assumed that gold Byzantine coins and their derivatives were supplied by embassies directly from Byzantium. However, as materials accumulated, it became obvious that gold solidars were moved through Asia not only by diplomatic missions but mostly by merchants of the Great Silk Road. According to the authors of this article, in the VI-VIII centuries BC, Byzantine coins, imitations and indications could be used in different ways. Probably, a significant part of them was associated with the funeral rite, but it was hardly a kind of "Charon obola." It is possible that they were used in the ordinary life of China as a means of payment, jewelry and positional goods.

BİZANS ANONİM FOLLİSLERİNDE BİTKİSEL BEZEMELİ HAÇ VE AY ÜZERİNDE HAÇ TASVİRİ: H, I, J, M GRUBUNUN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ

Before the years of approximately 1071-1092, the leaved cross and crescent beneath the cross appeared on Byzantine coins only in miniature size and typically as part of a scene focusing on the emperor. The motifs were generally widespread in the artwork of the provinces rather than the capital, Constantinople. Signifying death and resurrection, their appearance in the eleventh century in imperial Byzantine artwork points to influences of diverse cultures flocking to Anatolia and reflects the political and economic climate in the region. Did the increasing prominence of the leaved cross and the crescent beneath the cross in the eleventh century signal some type of agreements between the Byzantines and other new states to mint and circulate anonymous folles? While I support past theories that these folles were minted in Constantinople, some coins may have been minted in provinces and signified agreements between the empire and the new conquerors. This paper highlights the development of the leaved cross and crescent beneath the cross in Byzantine imperial art and draws attention to the non-Byzantines (e. g. Armenians, Georgians, Turks) in Anatolia in relation to the Byzantine anonymous folles (Group H, I and J, M) in eleventh-century Anatolia. Furthermore, I question whether the Byzantines might have implemented an integration policy as the Byzantine historian Michael Attaleiates put forward.

Coins from south of the North Gate of Jerash

This article is a descriptive and analytical study of a group of bronze coins discovered in the northern part of Jerash. The aim of this study is to shed light on the history of this part of the city through the coins. The result of this analysis shows that these coins represent the historical periods, starting with the Greek, followed by the Nabataean, Roman and finally early Islamic period. It is noticeable that Greek, Nabataean and Islamic coins are few in number and represent only a very small percentage of the total; Romans coins account for the vast majority. An important point of note is the absence of Byzantine coins within the group.

A Group of Late Antique Bronze Coins Found at Carthage (Sidi Daoud) in the Early 1800s

An ensemble of 29 Roman, Vandalic, and Byzantine coins described by J. E. Humbert in a manuscript written between 1815 and 1819 and preserved in C. J. C. Reuvens’ Archives in Leiden’s Rijksmuseum van Oudheden is discussed. According to Humbert, the coins were contained in a fragmented Hellenistic unguentarium that was said to have been found beneath an inscribed Christian tombstone at Sidi Daoud, in the environs of ancient Carthage. The most recent coin is a rare nummus of Maurice Tiberius that probably was minted at Carthage. It is unlikely that this group of coins is a funerary deposit, because the tombstone is at least a century earlier than the coins ; it is also uncertain whether they represent a hoard, although similar assemblages of coins have been found in controlled excavations.

ДВІ ВІЗАНТІЙСЬКИХ МОНЕТИ З ТЕРИТОРІЇ МОТРОНИНСЬКОГО МОНАСТИРЯ ТА ЛЕГЕНДА ПРО ЙОГО ЗАСНУВАННЯ КНЯГИНЕЮ МОТРОНОЮ

У статті досліджується ситуація з трансформацією інформації нумізматичного матеріалу у процесі його виявлення і подальшого використання як у наукових, так і в інших цілях. У науковому середовищі інформація щодо монет, виявлених на території Мотронинського городища на початку ХІХ століття, частково так і не була оприлюднена, а частково була змінена в результаті допущених помилок. Одночасно від початку ХІХ ст. населення Чигиринщини (нинішня Черкаська область) у своєму повсякденному житті інформацію щодо виявлених монет трансформувало у легенду про княгиню Мотрону, яка начебто заснувала православний Троїцький Мотронинський монастир. У статті доводиться, що насправді виникнення цієї легенди пов’язане виключно з помилкою, допущеною при первинній ідентифікації візантійських фолісів імператорів Юстиніана І та Юстина ІІ. Водночас прослідковуються етапи поширення інформації про візантійські монети та легенди про княгиню Мотрону. З’ясовуються моменти, пов’язані з часом можливого виявлення монет та їх дослідженням на початку ХІХ століття. Крім того, з метою формування найточніших уявлень щодо монетного матеріалу, виявленого на території Мотронинського монастиря, відтворюється первинна інформація про дану знахідку, яка була зафіксована у статті Ф. Круга та в архівних документах цієї обителі.

МОНЕТНО-РЕЧОВИЙ СКАРБ ПЕРШОЇ ПОЛОВИНИ ІХ СТОЛІТТЯ З ЧЕРКАСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ

У статті зроблено опис нумізматичної частини монетно-речового скарбу, знайденого біля хутора Кобеляки Звенигородського району Черкаської області, а саме куфічних дирхемів, карбованих у період династії Аббасидів, кількістю 64 шт. Розглянуто можливі причини та шляхи потрапляння даного скарбу на територію Черкащини.Визначені дирхеми походять із семи регіонів ісламського світу:1) Магріб – 32 шт.; 2) Ірак – 14 шт.; 3) Джібал – 8 шт.; 4) Кавказ – 5 шт.; 5) Хорасан – 2 шт.; 6) Мавераннахр – 2 шт.; 7) Кірман – 1 шт. Найпізніші дати на монетах дають можливість віднести знайдений скарб, з урахуванням ще певного часу для його надходження на землі Середнього Подніпров’я, до першої половини-середини ІХ століття, що відповідає періоду існування Луки-Райковецької культури на Правобережжі Дніпра. Науковці вважають, що саме уличі, одне з «літописних племен», які згадуються у «Повісті времяних літ», залишили нам археологічні пам’ятки типу луки-райковецьких.Даний скарб унікальний для Черкаської області як за набором, так і за кількістю знайдених куфічних монет. На території області від періоду посилення слов’янських племен та формування Київської Русі більше знаходять візантійських монет, тоді як куфічні монети трапляються значно рідше. Знахідка даного монетно-речового скарбу може вказувати на шляхи поширення та використання куфічних монет. Дати карбування дирхемів, які були у скарбі, свідчать про їх надходження на Середнє Подніпров’я у першій половині-середині ІХ ст., ще до утворення давньоруської держави, центром якої стало місто Київ. Якщо на Лівобережжі торговельні шляхи, починаючи від VIII-IХ ст., на сьогодні визначені краще, то даний скарб разом з іншими знахідками куфічних монет на Черкащині та на теренах більш західних областей України може допомогти у визначенні таких торговельних шляхів і на Правобережжі та в Західній Україні.

A COPPER COIN OF THE ARTUQID RULER NAJM AL-DIN ALPI WITH SIX COUNTERMARKS

Scope of the study. A specific series of copper coins of the Artuqid rulers Hussam al-Din Timurtash and his son Najm al-Din Alpi were extensively countermarked during the twelfth century. The scientific novelty The author discusses this system of countermarking and presents a countermark naming Najm al-Din Alpi, which was applied six times on his own coins.The Artuqids were a Turkmen dynasty that ruled in Eastern Anatolia, Northern Syria and Northern Iraq in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. On Il-Ghazi’s death in 516 (1122) his kingdom was divided among three heirs, with Timurtash retaining Mardin. He was succeeded by his only son Najm al-Din Alpi in 547 (1152), and the Artuqid kingdom of Mardin became the largest and most enduring, lasting until 812 (1409), when it was seized by Timur (Tamerlane) and later controlled by the Qara Qoyunlu (‘Black Sheep’) Turkmen.The description of the ‘copper dirhams’ of Husam al-Din Timurtash and Najm al-Din Alpi are given. One of the well-known problems in the series of the Artuqids of Mardin is the countermarking of the copper dirhams of Husam al-Din Timurtash and his son Najm al-Din Alpi. During the early part of the reign of Najm al-Din Alpi, the coins of his father continued to circulate. However, they were soon countermarked by Alpi, evidently to avoid confusion. We know of two countermarks, with ‘one line’ or with ‘two lines’ randomly applied on the obverses of Timurtash’s dirhams, sometimes both on the same coin. Alpi’s countermarks on the Timurtash coins could have been used to avoid confusion between the coins of father and son. The reasons of the appearance of the countermarks are described.Double countermarking did not necessarily occur simultaneously. Apparently, Alpi used the countermarks extensively to differentiate himself from his father and to achieve the greatest possible popularity through the medium of coin. This is also shown by the fact that the old Byzantine coins circulating in Alpi’s dominions were countermarked with his laqab ‘najm’.

About the Upper Border of the Кyiv Grivnas Usage

The problem of the usage of silver payment ingots (Kyiv grivnas) after the Mongol invasion is analyzed in the article. Such silver ingots are dated by the ХІІ — first half of the ХІІІ c., until the invasion of 1239—1240 by majority of authors. However, historical and numismatic facts testify to the important role, which the grivnas of the «Kyiv type» played in the second half of the ХІІІ c. The grivnas of the «Kyiv type» are occasionally among the finds of the beginning of the ХІV c. The weight of most ingots was about 160 g (are kept in the well-known standards — 163,7 g). However, a part of them has the weight of 170—216 g. It was connected with a great extent of rise in price of bread and grain in the middle – second part of the XIII c. The analysis of certain part of grivnas of the «Kyiv type» indicate, that the content of silver in them was very different. Absolute majority of grivnas has high percentage of silver — 900—950/1000. However, the certain part of them has high content of copper and other metals (400 °, 600 °, 750 °, 800 °, 870 °) and also there are present copper grivnas of the «Kyiv type». Part of researchers considers copper grivnas as old or modern false ingots. Several copper grivnas show the presence of silver (4,14 %. 9,80 %). For the grivnas of the «Kyiv type» manufacturing there was used well-quality silver as well alloys with concentrations of copper and other metals. These several grivnas of the «Kyiv type» could be made from billon Byzantine and oriental coins of the XIII c. Copper Byzantine coins of the ХІІ—ХІV c. are fixed in the Eastern Europe among the objects found in hoards and occasionally. A wide distribution of the Byzantine copper coins in Rus gives a testimony to the fact that they intensively were used in the local commerce. Discoveries of copper oriental coins of the middle of the XIII c. have been fixed in Kyiv. Reduction of the silver ingots usage was connected with global catastrophe associated with the invasion of the hordes of Batu Khan and Mongol tribute. However, these facts didn’t cause the complete disappearance of grivnas in the middle of the ХІІІ c. The grivnas of the «Kyiv type» appeared to be the main currency and in the second half of the ХІІІ c. (Mongol tribute, ransoms and etc.) on the certain territory of Eastern Europe.

Neue Alte Kupfermünzen Des Kaisers Justinian I. Aus Dem Karpatenbecken

Although various works had dealt with the Avar Period Byzantine coin circulation of the Carpathian Basin for the research the Age of Justinian I remained uninvestigated. The paper deals with the copper coins of Justinian I found in the Carpathian Basin. In the archive and literature six new coins are published. The analysis of the coin circulation is based on a catalogue where copper coins are collected from literature and museums.

HISTORICAL TOPOGRAPHY OF LUBECH IN 10th—11th CENTURIES

The antiquities of Lubech of the 10th — the beginning 11th century are represented by cultural layer, fixed on large territory, burial assemblages and structures (residential, household, defensive) of this time, as well as finds of hoards and single coins.&#x0D; The complex of archaeological sites of Lubech 10th century consists of settlements, suburbs (posads) and burial mounds. Settlements are located along the edge of the indigenous terrace of the left bank of the Dnieper River (Lysa Gora, Zamkova Gora, Gorodische—1, settlement Monastyrische). Posads adjoining them from the east and south. Podil (down town) is located under the settlements, in the floodplain of the Dnieper river.&#x0D; From the north, east and south, the territory of the city was surrounded by burial mounds. In 1947 O. O. Popko recorded 6 mound groups which were located in the central part of the settlement (Dubret site), on Lysa Gora (Mokriivshchina site), northwest of the settlement, near the Dnieper floodplain (Chabotok site), in the northern part of Lubech, on Visokomy Poli (Kolovoroty site), east of Lubech (Duhivschina site) and in the southern part of the settlement, near the Podolnitsky Gora (settlement Monastyrische), in Kurgan site. In 2017—19, the remains of mounds near house of P. Polubotok were also archaeologically recorded.&#x0D; During the end of 19th — beginning 21st centuries in different mound groups of Lubech 39 burials 10th — early 11th centuries have been excavated. The diversity of burial rites in the mound groups of Lubech testifies of the variegated nature of the Lubech population at the initial stage of its existence.&#x0D; Residential and household buildings of this time are recorded at Zamkova Gora, Horodysche 1 and Lubechposad. Some of them contained the hand-made and wheel-made pottery of Romenska culture. At the settlement Zamkova Gora the residential buildings of the 10th century which consisted of one row of structure were found. Three dwellings with clay ovens located in the southern corners of the structures were discovered. Ovens were built either using clay rollers or stone. In all constructions the hand-made pottery of Romenska culture was dominated but some fragments of early whel-made pottery were also occurred.&#x0D; Two more residential buildings with Romenska culture hand-made ceramics were found at the posad of Lubech. The residential and utility buildings of the 10th century with the wheel-made pottery were also discovered. Some sites with the hand-made pottery of Romenska culture were partially excavated at the Horodysche 1.&#x0D; Hoards and individual finds of Arab coins and single finds of Byzantine coins of 10th — beginning of 11th century come from Lubech.&#x0D; Analyzing the archaeological material it can be concluded that Lubech probably originated at the turn of the 9th—10th centuries, and in the mid-10th century it was already the significant center of Eastern Europe.