Ancient Byzantine Coin found in SC, but which one...

smokeythecat

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I found this quite some time ago. I took it to the local coin dealer and they identified at a coin (bronze) from the Byzantine Empire, and from the 6th-7th century AD. Now, this came from a long gone plantation site in South Carolina. If that's not a kicker, I don't know what is. We found Revolutionary War and colonial items at the site, and nothing from after about 1815, so that's when the place probably was destroyed.

While it not uncommon to find European or Asian coins in the US, this is doozie! My buddy had permission for the site and we got a lot of colonial buttons, my buddy got a 2nd South Carolina regiment button at the time.

So this is one of the oldest coins probably ever found in the US. Best guess is the owner of the plantation was a coin collector. My friends also found some oldies but I don't know what they were. The figure on the right, facing right, has what I believe is a halo around his head, and his right hand in the air.

Can you identify it? It has never been cleaned. byzantine.webpbyzantine r.webp
 

Ideas?
 

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Since you asked, I have my doubts about it being a Byzantine coin. The right arm in the down position is not typical of images on Byzantine coins; more likely they are raised or 'level'; nor do I see any legend.
(I"m still looking.)
Don.....
 

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Since you asked, I have my doubts about it being a Byzantine coin. The right arm in the down position is not typical of images on Byzantine coins; more likely they are raised or 'level'; nor do I see any legend.
(I"m still looking.)
Don.....

Hi Don - I didn't think it was Byzantine either... but I'm not sure from where. I thought the image looked like the depictions of Victory Crowning someone.
 

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Bramblefind,
Your example pointed out exactly what I wrote:
The right hand in Byz. coins is usually held upright or level; rarely, if ever(?), down. as shown on the OP's coin.
Don..
 

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''So this is one of the oldest coins probably ever found in the US.''

Not even close really, I've seen Greek coins from circa 500BC posted (Found in US). Beats my oldest by over 400 years.
 

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