Gold Mancuso struck by Bonnom/(Berenguer Ramon I), Madinat Barshinuna (Barcelona), 1023 – 1024 in the context of the Reconquista. An imitation of earlier gold dinars struck in al Andalus.
Gold Mancuso struck by Bonnom/(Berenguer Ramon I), Madinat Barshinuna (Barcelona), 1023 – 1024, gold, 3.795 g, American Numismatic Society
Ottoman Sultani of Suleiman the Magnificent
Ottoman Sultani of Suleiman the Magnificent, 1520-1566 (AH 926-974), gold, 3.46 g, British Museum
Gold coin. (whole) Arabic inscription within a plain and a dotted circle. (reverse) Arabic inscription; area divided into three by two horizontal lines. (obverse)
Chinese imitation of Byzantine solidus, 5th-6th centuries, gold, 0.59 g, British Museum
uniface Chinese imitation of Byzantine solidus
uniface Chinese imitation of Byzantine solidus, 6th century, gold, 0.85 g
Uniface imitation of Byzantine gold coin. (whole) Blank. (reverse) Three-quarter face bust of Justinian I. (obverse)
Ostrogothic imitation of Byzantine solidus of Emperor Anastasius
Ostrogothic imitation of Byzantine solidus of Emperor Anastasius, 491-518, gold, 4.33 g, British Museum
Inscriptions Obverse Inscription language: Latin Inscription content: D N ANASTASIVS P F AVG Reverse Inscription language: Latin Inscription content: VICTORIA AVCCC monogram of Theodoric Mintmark Inscription position: reverse filed and exergue Inscription language: Latin Inscription content: mint monogram RM *//COMOB Inscription note: RM ligatured
Silver penny of Sven King of Denmark, 1047-1074, silver, 1.02 g, British Museum
Silver coin. (whole) Illegible legend. Long cross voided with pellet within double circle in centre and three crescents at the end of each arm, crescents in two opposing angles. (reverse) Few blundered letters adumbrating legend. Angel handing labarum to ruler. (obverse)
Gold zlatnik of Prince Vladimir I of Kiev
Gold zlatnik of Prince Vladimir I of Kiev, late 10th-early 11th century, gold, 4.15 g, State Historical Museum, Moscow
Pilgrim Flask with Scenes of St. Menas, 4th-7th century, terra-cotta, 9.4 x 6.9 x 2.3 cm (3 11/16 x 2 11/16 x 7/8 in.), Harvard Art Museums
Description Both sides of this terracotta ampulla (pilgrim flask) are decorated with the same scene in relief: Saint Menas in prayer, flanked by two kneeling camels within a circular border of dots or studs. The saint stands frontally, arms held open; the long folds of his cloak are visible as vertical lines on either side of his body; there may be crosses depicted in the space on either side of his head. The body of the flask was created with a two-piece mold; the handles were made separately and attached before firing. The relief is worn and difficult to read; there is some discoloration on the vessel, particularly on the raised details. Commentary Flasks bearing images of Saint Menas are not uncommon in Egypt. Menas was a Roman soldier who was martyred; veneration of him as a saint centered on an oasis near Alexandria. On better-preserved ampullae bearing the same scene, the details of Menas' clothing (tunic, boots, and cloak, perhaps in the style of the later Roman military) are much clearer; the border type varies between the dot/stud motif and chevrons. Some examples bear inscriptions or depictions of crosses above the saint's arms.
Pilgrim Flask with Scenes of St. Menas, 4th-7th century, terra-cotta, 8.5 x 6.8 x 2.3 cm (3 3/8 x 2 11/16 x 7/8 in.)
Commentary Flasks bearing images of Saint Menas are not uncommon in Egypt. Menas was a Roman soldier who was martyred; veneration of him as a saint centered on an oasis near Alexandria. On better-preserved ampullae bearing the same scene, the details of Menas' clothing (tunic, boots, and cloak, perhaps in the style of the later Roman military) are much clearer; the border type varies between the dot/stud motif and chevrons. Some examples bear inscriptions or depictions of crosses above the saint's arms.
Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas, Egypt, late 6th century–mid 8th century, earthenware, H. 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm) W. 3 in. (7.6 cm), Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ampullae like this one were used by pilgrims to bring home water or oil from the great pilgrimage site for Saint Menas, said to be a late-third-century Egyptian Roman soldier who was martyred for his Christian faith. He is shown between the two camels who returned his body to Egypt for burial.