| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 130 | Auction date: 23 September 2025 |
| Lot number: 607 Price realized: 950 USD (Approx. 805 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Michael III "the Drunkard". 842-867. AV Semissis (12.5mm, 1.44 g, 6h). Syracuse mint. Struck 842-866. Crowned facing bust, wearing loros, holding patriarchal globus cruciger / Crowned facing bust, wearing chlamys, holding patriarchal globus cruciger. DOC 9; Anastasi 563d; SB 1694. Toned, slight doubling, minor metal flaw at edge. EF. Very attractive for issue. From the Wayne Scheible Collection, purchased from Harlan J. Berk. This semissis and the following one are from one of the final emissions of the Syracuse mint under the Byzantines. The Arab conquest of Sicily had began many years prior but the mint at Syracuse dutifully continued producing coinage until the reign of Michael's successor, Basil I, with whatever meager metal reserves were at their disposal. These final emissions, the latter struck even while Syracuse itself was under siege, are often either heavily debased electrum or even just gilt copper in the most extreme cases. These two specimens are conversely very attractive for such a late issue. Ultimately, the Syracusan Byzantine coinage terminated under Basil I when Syracuse fell to Aghlabid forces in 878 approximately a decade after this issue was last struck. Estimate: 500 USD |  |
