Yesterday Brian was wondering what the difference was between semissis and tremissis was…and so here it is…
The Byzantine Gold Solidus is a coin from the ancient Byzantine Empire. The word Solidus is a Latin word meaning 'solid'. The plural of Solidus is Solidi (from which the phrase ‘do me a solid’ was perhaps born). Solidus was introduced by the great emperor Constantine in 309-310. The coin was produced and used through the whole Empire of Byzantine. The Solidus is a solid and pure gold coin with high purchasing power. These coins were usually marked as wealth and were never used by the common citizens. Solidi were primarily used to make military payments. During the campaigns against the 'Vandals' the Solidi were paid to the Roman soldiers to arrange for transport and house.
The term 'Soldier' derived from the Solidus, to describe the persons who were paid by Solidi. The coins introduced by Constantine had a value of 1/72 of a Roman pound that comes around to 4.5 grams. The thickness of the coin was less than aureus.
The Solidus was produced in two forms, 'semissis' and 'tremissis'. The half Solidi were known as 'semissis' and one third Solidi were known as 'tremissis'.
The Constantine coinage collapsed during the barbarian invasions in the early 5th century. By the time of Anastasius in 491, only the solidus, semissus (1/2 solidus) and tremissis (1/3 solidus), and a tiny copper coin called the nummus (1/7200 of solidus) had survived. In 498, Anastasius introduced a series of multiples of the nummus. The most important of these is the follis (worth 40 nummi). The follis was used extensively for the next 6 centuries and its creation is considered a good starting point for the history of Byzantine coinage.
Northeast Numismatics is pleased to offer both semissis and tremissis on a regular basis should you be interested.
The 1804 Silver Dollar is one of the rarest and most popular of all American coins, despite the fact that none were made until 1834 and several were even made many years after that. Mint reports from 1804 show a delivery figure of 19,570 Silver Dollars, but numismatists believe these were all leftover coins dated 1803. Certain qualities of the known 1804 Silver Dollars (and other facts concerning their history) indicate that the first 1804 Silver Dollars were struck in or about 1834, when orders came from the State Department for special sets of coins to be struck for diplomatic purposes. Later restrikes were made sometime after 1857 (a unique example shows the undertype of an 1857 Swiss Shooting Thaler!).
It is also currently #1 in the 4th Edition of 100 Greatest US Coins.
Lapping is one of several names, including die polishing and die filing, for the fine abrading used to finish a die when it is first produced or, more frequently, repaired. At the time of production, a die usually has some inherent flaws from nicks and scratches to swelling and cracks. The tiny flaws, like a random scratch in the dies, may usually be corrected by minor polishing with a fine grain abrasive such as steel wool or emery. The fine markings etched on the die by the abrasive are called “die finish lines” or “lapping lines,” though usually “die finish” refers to a finer grain than “lapping lines,” which are more likely caused by a file or something of heavier grain. The abrasives may also be used to smooth out rust or damage on a well-used die, or to smooth over a small crack. Occasionally, dies will be “lapped,” thus effacing details, and re-engraved or repunched. Misplaced dates and the like show only light remnants of the errantly placed punch because most details were simply “lapped” away. This term is most often used in reference to mid 19th-century coinage it seems, though you can undoubtedly see fine lines of “die polish” or “die finish” on coins in your pocket change.
The so-called "Booby Head" of 1839 is a modification of the bust of Liberty that shows one of her hair strands curling around the truncation of the bust. In real life, this is anatomically impossible and it is doubtful that a sculptor would add such an unusual feature to a physical bust. The nickname was first applied by Dr. Montroville Dickeson in 1859, then standardized in 1868 by Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr. It has been in use ever since and is one of the more distinctive varieties in the Matron Head series of Large Cents.
The following was posted by Margie Sheaffer. Margie has been working coin shows for Northeast for the past several years.
I have always been a “Glass Half Empty” sort of person. It especially rears its ugly head whenever I fly the not-so-friendly skies. To my delight, it looked like my first flight in 2016, to the 61st FUN convention in Tampa, WOULD be a friendly experience. First of all, I boasted a record driving time to Philadelphia airport from my home – just 70 minutes! Secondly, I got through the security line in less than five minutes. And lastly, I boarded the plane so quickly it made my head spin.
I never make New Years resolutions; however, this year I made an exception. I vowed to read more, write more and most importantly, chill out more. This was to be the first time in four years that I did not bring my Kindle on a plane trip. Plus, Tom and Chris would be glad that I was determined to chill out. When Tom suggested that I memorialize some of this year’s F.U.N. experience, I knew that my resolution to write more was a good decision.
Oops… I spoke too soon about my Tremendous Travel experience. At 8:30 am as I sat on the plane that was to have departed at 7:55 a.m., the co-pilot comes on the intercom declaring “The gas tank is leaking and we are not sure how long it will take to repair”. So I declared to myself on the inside: “Please chill out, please chill out, please chill out. Perfect weather…check. First flight out…check. No problems with security…check. No traffic driving to airport…check.” I then declared to the passengers next to me “I rarely fly anywhere that I don’t have at least a one hour delay,” to which a woman next to me declared “Please give me your phone number. I want to make sure I never fly on the same plane you’re on.”
As we finally departed for Tampa at 10:00 am, I closed my eyes and in an A-PLUS chilling mode I asked myself if I ever thought, at my long-in-the-tooth age, that I would be having the time of my life working for and with Tom of Northeast Numismatics. I’ve known Tom for over 35 years. I met him in the 1970’s while working for a Beverly Hills coin dealer. His dry sense of humor has always kept me on my toes. That is why I like to use the chat acronym LAHW when defining my time at Northeast. No, it’s not Let’s Always Have Worries (which could fit my MO). LAHW stands for Laughs and Hard Work.
Within an hour of the convention opening to the public on Thursday, the 7th, the bourse room was so full of activity and the aisles were so crowded, I was tempted to ask Tom for a Segway to steer my way around the floor. I could have maneuvered around the convention space like Paul Blart Mall Cop.
At home I’m lucky if I log in 1,000 steps per day on my pedometer. During the week of F.U.N. I recorded over 14,000 steps per day visiting with and doing business with many coin dealers. With over 600 dealers set up and anxious to do business, I was quite busy showing coins to as many people as possible.
We had a pretty good amount of traffic at our table. I met some interesting, as well as eccentric, collectors that came to our table to introduce themselves, look at (and sometimes buy!) our coins and to compliment Chris on our website. It was a pleasure to see new faces at our bourse table.
Saturday afternoon I departed the bourse floor to catch a ride to Tampa International Airport to start my trip home. There have been conventions in the past that I am ready to catch that plane to Philadelphia. At times I have left a little earlier than I needed to. (Shh…don’t let Tom and Chris know this.) The 2016 F.U.N. show was great upbeat show and was not one of those shows that I was ready to sneak out of early!!!
If the quantity of retail and wholesale business done during the F.U.N. show is any indication of the business that will be done for the rest of the year, then 2016 should prove to be a great year for dealers and collectors alike!