Anonymous. Class A3. Time of Basil II and Constantine VIII (AD 1020-1028). AE follis (28mm, 10.64 gm, 5h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5. Constantinople. +EMMA-NOVHΛ, bust of Christ facing, wearing nimbus cruciger with five pellets in each limb, pallium and colobium, book of Gospels in both hands, IC-XI (barred) across fields / +IhSϤS / XRISTϤS / bASILЄϤ / bASILЄ, legend in four lines; floral ornaments above and below. Sear 1818. The holder identifies this specimen as a class A2 follis, which is a much larger and heavier module in Sear, with flans up to 36mm and an average weight of ~15gm, although some are 20gm+. Philip Grierson, author of the Dumbarton Oaks catalogue, does not distinguish the A2 and A3 issues as Sear does, hence some ambiguity between catalogers (and grading companies), depending on the source used.

HID09801242017

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