Byzantine-period Bronze Coins from the Sea at Dor more

‘Atiqot 61, 2009 BYZANTINE-PERIOD BRONZE COINS FROM THE SEA AT DOR DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI The southern anchorage at Dor (Tantura lagoon) served as a port facility for at least four millennia (Fig. 1). The anchorage is protected from the west by a submerged kurkar ridge, from the north by a tombolo, and from the southwest by a small island. The lagoon, a natural feature, preserved the remains of shipwrecks and associated finds, which were buried in the sand soon after wreckage. Archaeological evidence and historical documentation indicate extensive maritime activity at Dor’s southern anchorage from as early as the Middle Bronze Age. Some of the ships were probably wrecked while anchoring in the lagoon, which provided little shelter during heavy winter storms. Underwater rescue surveys carried out in 1998–1999 by the Israel Antiquities Authority1 revealed a Byzantine assemblage that included a pile of kurkar (aeolianite sandstone) ashlar blocks, which were used as ballast or were part of a ship’s cargo. Dozens of iron and bronze nails were recovered about 5–20 m south of the blocks, as well as cylindrical fishing net sinkers, a five-pronged fishing spear, lampara (a lamp in the shape of an iron basket for maintaining fire in the ship’s bow, used to attract fish), a bronze steelyard counterweight in the shape of a woman’s bust, a lead sounding-weight, a basket-shaped pottery jar containing the remains of grapes, a bronze cooking pot with two earshaped handles, a woodworking or battle axe, a builder’s hammer with nails, a drill with a wooden handle, and a plowshare (Galili, Rosen and Sharvit 2007; Galili and Rosen 2008). The numismatic finds included 28 bronze coins and a silver coin, which were found scattered on the sea bottom. Further surveying by Yaakov Sharvit, who used a metal detector, revealed a concreted lump weighing 433 g, which turned out to be a hoard of 53 bronze coins (Fig. 2).2 Cyprus Mediterranean Sea ‘Akko Carmel Coast Shiqmona Haifa Moun me t Car N. Gallim N. Megadim N. Oren ‘Atlit N. Me‘arot l Dor Southern anchorage site 0 10 km Fig. 1. Location of site. Fig. 2. Concreted coins. 82 DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI It is possible that the assemblage derives from a Byzantine merchant ship from the first half of the seventh century CE that was wrecked near the shoreline, and of which scanty remains of the wooden hull were recovered. The ship’s hull remains are badly preserved due to marine erosion, decay, or secondary use of the wood and metal fittings by the local inhabitants THE NUMISMATIC MATERIAL Two coins were completely unidentifiable. A fourteenth-century Venetian grosso (Cat. No. 80) is intrusive, originating from one of several shipwrecks identified in the lagoon, or, perhaps, from nearby Tel Dor, where medieval occupation phases are attested. This coin will not be discussed any further, as it is not part of the hoard. The remainder of the coins represents almost all of the Byzantine emperors that ruled during the Empire and into the first decades following the Arab conquest (see Table 1). Provenance As mentioned above, some of the coins were collected individually, and others, which were thinner in appearance, were found in a concreted lump. Unfortunately, no accurate record was kept regarding which coins were collected individually and which were from the concretion. According to the divers, there appears to be no doubt that all coins (except the medieval one) came from the same wreck. Differential corrosion may enable us to determine which coins came from the concretion and which were found individually. Most of the earlier coins (pre-Heraclius) suffered more corrosion damage, but were not worn from use; we suppose that these were the coins that were collected individually. The later coins, those dating to the reigns of Heraclius and Constans II, showed signs of slight wear, but only a few showed corrosion damage, a diagnosis consistent with their having been protected inside the concretion. Five coins (Cat. Nos. 21, 23, 31, 32, 70) showed marked wear along one segment of the edge, on both sides. This is probably due to differential abrasion on the seabed. Description It is not unusual for hoards of the Byzantine period to contain coins covering a wide chronological range, as coins were used for extended periods. It is notable that hoards found on land in the region3 normally end with Heraclius, during whose reign two major historical events occurred, i.e., the Sassanid invasion (614–629 CE) and the Arab conquest (c. 638–640 CE). The coins themselves do not present any special features beyond the expected minor variants on coins of this period. Thus, on Cat. No. 30 the word ANNO is spelled ANN; on Cat. No. 33 the officina letter is presented as e instead of the usual ‰; on Cat. No. 35 the letter R of the obverse inscription is in the shape of the familiar monogram of Heraclius Ð; Cat. No. 76 is apparently a follis of Constans II overstruck on an earlier half- follis cut in two; Cat. No. 36 has the word ANNO written sideways and not vertically, but otherwise it appears ‘normal’. The mints represented are the expected variety. The coins of the early Byzantine rulers come mostly from the capital at Constantinople (18 coins), Antioch (9 coins) and Nicomedia (3 coins). The mint of Cyzicus is notably absent, but no special significance can be attached to Table 1. Number of Coins according to Byzantine Emperors Emperor (Date) Anastasius I (post-reform coins; 498–518) Justinian I (527–565) Justin II (565–578) Tiberius II (578–582) Maurice Tiberius (582– 603) Phocas (603–610) Heraclius (610–641) Constans II (641–668) 6th century Byzantine (after 538) 7th century Arab imitation No. of Coins 1 1 6 6 11 certain, 1 uncertain 5 4 certain, 1 uncertain 38 certain, 1 uncertain, 1 possible imitation 2 1 BYZANTINE-PERIOD BRONZE COINS FROM THE SEA AT DOR 83 this fact. The coins of Heraclius come mostly from Constantinople (3 coins) with one from Nicomedia, while all the coins of Constans II are from the Constantinople mint, which is the usual pattern for both Syria/Palestine and Cyprus (see below). Two coins are suspected Arab imitations: Cat. No. 58 of Constans II and Cat. No. 77 of Heraclius. Catalogue No. 58 appears to have a strange date on the right side: X/Ч/X, and Cat. No. 77 has an unintelligible exergue: OKYNΦ. These coins should be assigned to Qedar (1988–1989) Classes A and B. Five countermarks appear on the coins: a Heraclian countermark @, applied to a coin of Maurice (Cat. No. 19); two illegible countermarks, one of them probably Heraclian, applied to Cat. No. 27 of Phocas; a completely illegible countermark, applied to Cat. No. 77, which is probably an imitation of a Heraclian follis; and the countermark = on two coins, Cat. Nos. 66 and 75, both of Constans II, applied to coins dated 651/2 onward. Date of the Hoard The latest dated coins in the hoard are Cat. Nos. 73 and 74, dated to 659–663/4 CE. This type (DOC 2: Class 9) appeared after official Byzantine coins had ceased to arrive regularly in Syria/Palestine by c. 658 CE (Phillips and Goodwin 1997:63, 65; Foss 1999:126).4 The earliest possible date of the hoard is given by the countermark monogram =, now unanimously attributed to Constantine IV (668–685), though exactly when in his reign cannot be determined with certainty (MIB III:111). Origin of the Hoard As discussed above, we may be able to divide the coins from the shipwreck into two separate parcels, one that contains the early coins and the other the late coins. The two parcels do not contain any coins of the Arab-Byzantine series,5 so if it is assumed to be of local origin, its date of deposition must predate their very first series, which is not likely to have appeared as late as the reign of Constantine IV.6 Alternatively, one may assume that the hoard arrived from Cyprus. This is likely on several grounds: (1) The = monogram is attributed to Cyprus (MIB III:111), frequently found in hoards from the island. Its occasional presence in Syria/Palestine suggests that some Byzantine currency in post-conquest Syria had arrived via Cyprus (Phillips and Goodwin 1997:80–81). (2) The large percentage of coins of Constans II in the present hoard are in keeping with the notion that vast quantities of Constans II coins seem to have been supplied to Cyprus. These coins circulated on the island as a political and propagandist effort on the part of the Byzantine empire to retain influence there during the Arab incursions in the mid-seventh century (Phillips and Goodwin 1997:80, with further bibliography). The Arabs do not seem to have offered an alternative to Byzantine coinage on the island as they did in Syria and Palestine. (3) Imitations of the coins of Heraclius and Constans II are fairly common in Palestine and Syria, yet in the present hoard there are only two coins suspected to be imitations (Cat. Nos. 58 and 77). These coins are thought to be one of the classes of Arab imitations of Byzantine coins made in Syria before the monetary reform of ‘Abd al-Malik in 696/7 CE. More precisely, they are thought to have commenced some time before the official coins of Constans II ceased to arrive in Syria/Palestine, in c. 658 (Phillips and Goodwin 1997:63, 65). They are one of the most important coinages here in the late seventh century (Foss 1999:126–127). The wide range of reigns represented in the hoards is, however, problematic. This phenomenon is common in Syria/Palestine, where even sixth-century coins were acceptable currency late in the seventh century, but not on Cyprus, where most late hoards contain only coins issued from the mid-650s onward (Phillips and Goodwin 1997:79). If indeed all the coins originated from the same wreck, the explanation that reconciles most, if not all of the facts, is that we have two parcels: one consisting of the early and heavy folles, the 84 DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI other comprising the ‘lump’ of late coins. The first parcel may have belonged to the ship’s crew. As the latest datable coins in this group are from 612/3, the very last year of Byzantine rule in Syria/Palestine before the Sassanid invasion, the parcel may well be of local origin, serving, perhaps, as a petty cash fund for the ship while operating near the Palestinian coast, where these coins would still be acceptable. Catalogue Nos. 58 and 77, the suspected Arab imitations, should belong to this parcel as well, because they are most probably of local origin. The second parcel appears to have come from Cyprus, and was either the property of a passenger or coins kept separately by the crew. CATALOGUE Anastasius I (491–518 CE) 1. IAA 102678. 498–518. Obv.: DN ANASTAS-[IVS--- Bust r. Rev.: ; above cross. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 4.10 g, 23 mm. 4. IAA 102686. 571/2, Constantinople. Obv.: DN IVS[TI]-NVSPP[--- Justin and Sophia on thrones. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. µI, above cross, below Γ in ex.: CON Æ follis, ., 12.22 g, 29 mm. MIB II:43a. M 5. IAA 102684 (Fig. 3). 573/4, Constantinople. Obv.: DN IVSTI-[--- Justin and Sophia on thrones. ; to l. aNNO, to r. µI/II, above cross, Rev.: below B in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↓, 9.70 g, 30 mm. MIB II:43a. M M Justinian I (527–565 CE) 2. IAA 102677. 557/8, Constantinople. Obv.: [DNIVSTINI]ANVS PPAVI Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO; to r. XXXI, above cross, below a in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↓, 12.75 g, 29 mm. MIB I:95a. 6. IAA 102683. 574/5, Constantinople. Obv.: As above. ; to l. aNNO, to r. X, above cross, Rev:. below Γ in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↓, 11.22 g, 28 mm. MIB II:43a. M M Justin II (565–578 CE) 3. IAA 102682 (Fig. 3). 569/70, Nicomedia. Obv.: …]-NVS PP AVC Justin and Sophia on thrones. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. Ч, above cross, below a in ex.: NIKO Æ follis, 5, 10.15 g, 31 mm. MIB II:46a. 7. IAA 102685. 575/6, Constantinople. Obv.: …]PAV Justin and Sophia on thrones. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. X/I, above ½, below Γ in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↓, 14.44 g, 30 mm. MIB II:43d. M M 8. IAA 102681. Constantinople. Obv.: …]-NVS PP AVI Justin and Sophia on thrones. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. ??/II, above cross, below Γ in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↑, 13.60 g, 29 mm. M BYZANTINE-PERIOD BRONZE COINS FROM THE SEA AT DOR 85 3 5 9 11 23 27 30 0 1 38 Fig. 3. Coins found individually. 86 DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI Tiberius II (578–582 CE) 9. IAA 102693 (Fig. 3). 580/1, Constantinople. Obv.: dmTibCON - S[… Facing bust, in consular robes. ; to l. aNNO, to r. µI Rev.: in ex.: CONΔ Æ follis, ↓, 12.48 g, 31 mm. MIB II:30. m 582/3, Constantinople Obv.: [D]N[… Facing bust, holding globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. I, above cross, below Δ in ex.: [C]ON Æ follis, ↑, 9.24 g, 28 mm. MIB II:65B. M 10. IAA 102691. As above. Obv.: dm Tib CO-NS[--in ex.: CON‰ Æ follis, ↓, 11.07 g, 30 mm. 11. IAA 102692 (Fig. 3). As No. 9. Obv.: dm[…]PPAC in ex.: CON[a or Δ] Æ follis, 7, 10.97 g, 32 mm. 12. IAA 102697. 580/1, Antioch. Obv.: ]ITNTN¸-¹ATN..APPV Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. II/Ч, above cross. in ex.: τh‰Чp’ Æ follis, ↓, 10.76 g, 30 mm. MIB II:47a. 16. IAA 102713. 584/5, Constantinople. Obv.: ]C-CτIB‰RA[ Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. II/I, above cross, below obliterated. in ex.: CO[N] Æ follis,↑, 8.01 g, 28 mm. MIB II:65D. The obverse inscription appears blundered. M m 17. IAA 102750. As above. Rev.: Below ‰ in ex.: CON Æ follis, 7, 8.56 g, 30 mm. MIB II:65D or 66D 18. IAA 102752. 587/8, Constantinople. Obv.: Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. ³/I, above cross, below Γ in ex.: CON Æ follis, 9, 7.46 g, 26 mm. MIB II:65D or 66D. M 13. IAA 102695. 581/2, Antioch. Obv.: dm[…]PAV Facing bust, in consular robes. On crown trifolium. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. ³/III in ex.: τh‰Чp Æ follis, ↓, 10.46 g, 30 mm. MIB II:47b m 14. IAA 102690. As above. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. µ/[II], above cross. in ex.: [τh‰]Чp’ Æ follis, ↓, 12.36 g, 30 mm. m Maurice Tiberius (582–602 CE) 15. IAA 102689. 19. IAA 102706. 597/8, Constantinople. Obv.: …]B‰R PP AVC Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. X/µ, above cross. Countermark @ in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↓, 8.84 g, 27 mm. MIB II:65. Countermarked by Heraclius in 610–613: countermark ‘E’ in DOC 2/1:55, Table 8. This type occurs extensively in Israel, e.g., in the Malha hoard (near Jerusalem) in the M BYZANTINE-PERIOD BRONZE COINS FROM THE SEA AT DOR 87 Spaer collection. Most on folles of Maurice (MIB III:111). 20. IAA 102751. Year 7, 8, or 12, Constantinople. Obv.: Facing bust, bearded, cuirassed. ; to l. aNNO, to r. [?]/II, above cross, Rev.: below B in ex.: C[ON] Æ follis, ↓, 8.30 g, 28 mm. MIB II:65D or 66D M 25. IAA 102696. 598/9, Antioch? Obv.: Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. X/ЧII, above cross, below Γ in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 6.13 g, 24 mm. MIB II:96C? M 21. IAA 102700. 591/2. Obv.: DNmAV[… Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. X, above cross, below B in ex.: obliterated. Æ half-follis, 1, 3.63 g, 22 mm. Cf. MIB II: No 69 (Constantinople). K 26. IAA 102699. 599/600, Antioch. Obv.: Facing bust. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. X/ЧIII, above cross, below Γ in ex.: [τh]‰Чp Æ follis, ↓, 10.27 g, 26 mm. MIB II:96C. M 22. IAA 102754. Maurice Tiberius? 601/2? Constantinople. Obv.: Facing bust. ; to l. aNNO, to r. XX, above cross, Rev.: below B in ex.: CON Æ half-follis, ↓, 5.70 g, 24 mm. Cf. MIB II:69D. K Phocas (602–610 CE) 27. IAA 102701 (Fig. 3). 606/7, Constantinople. Obv.: [DN F]OCAS P[ERP AVC]… Facing bust. Rev.: ; above aNNO, to r. Ч; traces of overstrike and (Heraclian?) countermark. in ex.: CONΔ Æ follis, 7, 9.58 g, 28 mm. MIB II:61C. XXXX 23. IAA 102688 (Fig. 3). 589/90, Nicomedia. Obv.: …]-b‰R Facing bust, cuirassed. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. µ/II, above cross, below a in ex.: NIKO Æ follis, ↓, 10.49 g, 32 mm. MIB II:75D. M 28. IAA 102705. 603–610, Constantinople. Obv.: Facing bust. Rev.: , above star. in ex.: [CO]NB Æ half-follis,↑, 2.69 g, 23 mm. MIB II:65b. XX 24. IAA 102698. 593/4, Antioch. Obv.: Traces of bust (corroded). Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. X/II, above cross, below Γ in ex.: τh[‰Чps] Æ follis,↑, 5.57 g, 27 mm. MIB II:96C. M 29. IAA 102687. 602/3, Antioch. Obv.: Phocas on l. and Leontia on r., nimbate, holding cross. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. I, above cross. in ex.: [τh]‰Чp[¸] Æ follis, ↓, 8.93 g, 27 mm. MIB II:83a. m 30. IAA 102702 (Fig. 3). 606/7, Antioch. 88 DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI Obv.: ON FOC[A] N‰P[‰AV] Phocas holding globus cruciger and Leontia with long cross. In center pellet. Rev.: , to l. aNN (sic), to r. Ч in ex.: τh‰Чp Æ follis, 5, 9.85 g, 27 mm. MIB II:83a. m Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. II/I, above cross, below B in ex.: NIKO Æ follis, 7, 5.84 g, 26 mm. MIB III:174 var. Note ‘R’ in the shape of monogram of Heraclius. 36. IAA 102680. Heraclius? (610–641). Obv.: Facing bust, holding globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO sideways, to r. II/I, above cross, below a in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, 1, 5.25 g, 27 mm. Overstruck on follis of Maurice, year 13. M 31. IAA 102694. 609/10, Antioch. Obv.: ]FOCA - N‰P‰[… Facing bust with consular robes. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. µ/II, above cross. in ex.: τh‰Чp Æ follis, ↓, 7.31 g, 25 mm. MIB II:83a. M m Heraclius (610–641 CE) 32. IAA 102753. 611/2, Constantinople. Obv.: …]P‰RPAV[C] Facing bust (traces). Rev.: ; to l. aN[NO], to r. II, above cross, below B in ex.: CON Æ follis, 7, 10.28 g, 26 mm. MIB III:158. M Constans II (641–668 CE) 37. IAA 102745. 641/2–644, Constantinople. Obv.: Standing figure. ; to l. oblit, to r. N‰O£, above cross. Rev.: in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 1.30 g, 19 mm. Cf. MIB III: Nos. 162–164 (DOC Class 1). m 33. IAA 102710. As above. Obv.: on hRACLI-[… (sic) Rev.: Officina e (sic) Æ follis, ↓, 8.55 g, 28 mm. 34. IAA 102703. 612/13, Constantinople. Obv.: …]CONτAV (sic) Heraclius on l., H. Constantine on r., cross between their heads. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. II/I, above ½ , below ‰ in ex.: CON Æ follis,↑, 8.03 g, 27 mm. MIB III:159b. 38. IAA 102726 (Fig. 3). 641/2–644, Constantinople. Obv.: ‰NTòT[O NIKa] Standing figure, beardless, holding long cross and globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to l. ΟΦa? to r. N‰O£, above aNa in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 3.18 g, 23 mm. MIB III:163 (DOC Class 2). m M 39. IAA 102715. As above. Rev.: ; to l. ΟΦa, above aNa, below and r. obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, 1, 1.79 g, 22 mm. m 35. IAA 102731. 612/3, Nicomedia. Obv.: ---]‰ÐPAYC (sic) Facing bust, cuirassed. 40. IAA 102727. c. 642–644, Constantinople. Obv.: ---]Ka Standing figure, holding globus cruciger. ; to r. [N]‰O£, above a[Na] Rev.: m BYZANTINE-PERIOD BRONZE COINS FROM THE SEA AT DOR 89 in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, 7, 2.62 g, 21 mm. MIB III:163–164 (DOC Class 2 or 3). 41. IAA 102716. 643/4, Constantinople (?) Obv.: InP‰R - CON[... Facing bust, beardless. Rev.: ; to l. aNa, to r. II/[I], above cross, below Γ in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 3.92 g, 25 mm. MIB III:166. Formerly attributed to Heraclonas (DOC 2/2:397, No. 5c). 46. IAA 102741. As No. 44. ; to l. aN[a], to r. N[.., above cross, Rev.: below obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 1.55 g, 23 mm. M M 47. IAA 102725 (Fig. 4). As No. 44. Rev.: ; to left aN[a], to r. N‰[O£], above cross, below B in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 2.56 g, 16 mm. M 42. IAA 102711 (Fig. 4). As above. Overstruck on a coin dated X/Iµ/I (18). Rev.: ; to l. aNa, to r. II (if there is another year mark, it is obliterated), above cross, below a Æ follis, ↓, 4.11 g, 24 mm. M 48. IAA 102724. As No.44 Obv.: [‰NTòTONI]Ka Rev.: ; to r. N‰O£, above cross, below B in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 1.62 g, 18 mm. M 43. IAA 102723. 651/2? Constantinople. Obv.: [‰ΝΤò]-ΤΟ Ν-ΙΚa Standing figure, bearded. ; to r. N‰O£, above cross. Other details Rev.: obliterated. in ex.: aIX (?) Æ follis,↓, 2.44 g, 20 mm. MIB III:170 (DOC Class 5a). M 49. IAA 102733. 651/2–654/5, Constantinople. Obv.: Standing figure with long beard, holding long cross and globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to l. aNa, above star, below a or Δ in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, 7, 1.90 g, 21 mm. MIB III:170c (DOC Class 5b). M 44. IAA 102738. 651/2–654/5, Constantinople. Obv.: …]AV Standing figure, holding long cross and globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to l. aNa, above cross, other details obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis,↓, 2.86 g, 20 mm. MIB III:170b (DOC Class 5a). M 50. IAA 102717 (Fig. 4). As above. Rev.: ; to l. [a]Na, to r. N‰O£, above star, below Γ in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 2.18 g, 16 mm. M 45. IAA 102714. As above ; to l. aNa, to r. obliterated., above Rev.: cross, below B Æ follis, ↑, 2.89 g, 19 mm. M 51. IAA 102721. As No. 49. Obv.: ‰NT[òTO NIKa] Rev.: ; to left aNa, to r. [N‰]O£, above star, below Δ? in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 2.83 g, 20 mm. M 90 DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI 42 47 50 60 61 67 77 0 1 80 Fig. 4. Concreted coins (except for No. 80). 52. IAA 102734. 651/2–655/6, Constantinople. Rev.: ; above star. All other details are obliterated in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 1.81 g, 18 mm. Cf. MIB III:170c, 172c, 173c (DOC Class 5b). M Rev.: ; to l. [a]Na, below Δ. Other details obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, 7, 2.99 g, 19 mm. 55. IAA 102739. As No.52. Obv.: ]Tò-T-O- Double struck. Rev.: ; to l. aNa, below B. Other details obliterated. in ex.: X[??] Æ follis, ↓, 1.45 g, 21 mm. M 53. IAA 102744. As above. Rev.: ; to l. aNa, above star. Other details obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 1.67 g, 20 mm. M M 54. IAA 102747. As No. 52. 56. IAA 102729. 651/2–657/8, Constantinople. Obv.: …]A Standing figure with beard, holding long cross and globus cruciger. BYZANTINE-PERIOD BRONZE COINS FROM THE SEA AT DOR 91 Rev.: ; all details obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 2.72 g, 18 mm. 57. IAA 102746. As above. Obv. …]ON[IKa] Standing figure. Rev.: ? traces of aN to l. all other details obliterated. Overstruck? in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 1.60 g, 21 mm. M M 62. IAA 102719. 656/7, Constantinople. Obv.: [‰N T]òT-ON[IKa] Standing figure with long beard, holding long cross and globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to left KwN, to r. CTa[N], above star, below ‰ in ex.: Xµ Æ follis, ↓, 2.83 g, 23 mm. MIB III:172c (DOC Class 6) M 58. IAA 102740. 651/2–657/8, Constantinople. Rev.: ; to l. a[.., to r. X/Ч/X(?). Other details obliterated. Æ follis, 1.11 g, 20 mm. Cf. MIB III:171b or 173. Possibly an imitation. M 63. IAA 102712. 655/6–656/7, Constantinople. Obv.: Standing figure Rev.: ; to l. [C]T[aN]; below a. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 2.32 g, 19 mm. MIB III:172 (DOC Class 6). M 59. IAA 102737. 652/3, Constantinople. Obv.: Standing figure, bearded, holding long cross. Rev.: ; to l. aNa, below ‰ in ex.: XII Æ follis, ↓, 2.00 g, 21 mm. MIB III:170 (DOC Class 5). M 64. IAA 102728. As above. Rev.: ; to l. KwN, above cross, below B. Other details obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, 1.49 g, 16 mm. MIB III:172b (DOC Class 6) M 60. IAA 102722 (Fig. 4). 655/6, Constantinople. Rev.: ; to left [aNa], to r. N‰O£, above star, below ‰ in ex.: [X]Ч Æ follis, 1, 1.46 g, 16 mm. MIB III:170c (DOC Class 5b). In MIB this type ends in year 14. M 65. IAA 102718. As above. Obv.: ENTòT[… Standing figure. Rev.: ; above star, to r. CTa. Other details obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 2.81 g, 22 mm. MIB III:172c (DOC Class 6). M 61. IAA 102720 (Fig. 4). 655/6, Constantinople. Obv.: [‰]NTò[T- ONIKa] Standing figure with long beard, holding long cross and globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to left KwN, to r. [C]TaN, above star, below ‰; overstruck. in ex.: [X]Ч Æ follis, ↓, 2.58 g, 20 mm. MIB III:172c (DOC Class 6). M 66. IAA 102749. 656/7, Constantinople. Obv.: Standing figure (traces). ; to l. aNNO, to r. X³[I], above K, Rev.: below Δ. Countermark = in ex.: C[ON] Æ follis, ↑, 2.83 g, 18 mm. MIB III:173c (DOC Class 7). The countermark was applied in Cyprus, under Constantine IV (MIB III:111). M 92 DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI 67. IAA 102735 (Fig. 4). 655/6, Constantinople. Obv.: Standing figure with beard, holding long cross globus cruciger. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. obliterated., above K, below ‰ in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↓, 2.90 g, 19 mm. MIB III:173d (DOC Class 7). M 73. IAA 102736. 659/60–663/4, Constantinople. Obv.: On l. standing figure with long cross, on upper r. cross. Other details obliterated. Rev.: Three figures. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↑, 1.70 g, 20 mm. MIB III:175 (DOC Class 9). 74. IAA 102748. As above. Obv.: Standing figure on l., to l. obliterated., to r. M/a Æ follis, ↑, 1.89 g, 20 mm. 75. IAA 102732. 651/2–668, Constantinople? Obv.: obliterated. Rev.: All details obliterated. Double struck? Countermark: = in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, 2.34 g, 20 mm. The countermark applied in Cyprus, under Constantine IV (MIB III:111). 68. IAA 102707. 655/6, Constantinople. Obv.: Two figures, a cross between their head. Rev.: ; to r. X/Ч, above K, below a; overstruck in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 2.66 g, 23 mm. MIB III:174d (DOC Class 8). M M 69. IAA 102730. As above. ; to l. aNN[O], to r. X/Ч, above K, Rev.: below Γ in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 1.43 g, 23 mm. M 70. IAA 102709. 656/7, Constantinople. As above. Rev.: ; to l. [aN]NO, to r. [X]/µ, below Γ in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↑, 3.40 g, 24 mm. M 71. IAA 102742. 655/6–657/8, Constantinople. As No.68. Rev.: ; above K, below B. Other details obliterated. in ex.: CON Æ follis, ↓, 1.85 g, 19 mm. M Uncertain Byzantine 76. IAA 102704. Constans II? Constantinople? Obv.: Figure with long beard, holding staff with cross. Double struck. Rev.: Of the last strike only aN[a?] can be seen. Overstruck on half follis: to l. [aN]NO, below a. Other details obliterated. in ex.: obliterated. Æ follis, ↓, 2.32 g, 22 mm. Deliberately cut in two. 77. IAA 102708 (Fig. 4). Probably 7th c. imitation of a Heraclian follis. Obv.: Three figures. Rev.: ; to r. Ч/II; below Γ; other details obliterated. Illegible countermark in ex.: OKYNΦ? Æ follis, ↑, 2.36 g, 22 mm. Cf. Phillips and Goodwin 1997:74, Nos. C68– C72. M 72. IAA 102743. As above. ; to l. aNN[O], below ‰? Other details Rev.: obliterated. Æ follis, 1, 3.49 g, 18 mm. M BYZANTINE-PERIOD BRONZE COINS FROM THE SEA AT DOR 93 78. IAA 102755. Byzantine, after 538 CE. Obv.: obliterated. Rev.: ; to l. aNNO, to r. II, above cross, below B in ex.: obliterated. Æ half-follis, 3.18 g, 21 mm. K 79. IAA 102756. Byzantine, after 538 CE. Obv.: Facing bust. Rev.: As above. Æ half-follis, ↓, 1.78 g, 21 mm. Medieval 80. IAA 102679 (Fig. 4). Giovanni Soranzo, 1312–1328, Venice. Obv.: Christ enthroned, nimbate. To l. I C, to r. O C Rev.: ·IO SV$ANTIO·S·M·VENETI· Doge on l., Christ on r.; between: DVX on standard. š grosso, ↓, 1.91 g, 20 mm. Papadopoli 1893:154, No. 2; Pl. IX:6. NOTES 1 The surveys (License Nos. G-29/1998, G-13/1999) were conducted by Ehud Galili with the participation of Y. Sharvit, K. Raveh, D. Moskovitz and H. Sali. 2 The coins were cleaned by Ella Altmark and photographed by Clara Amit, both of the IAA. 3 An exhaustive list is beyond the scope of this report. For a partial list of land hoards, see Ariel 1996:71. An example close in date to our hoard is described by Bates and Kovacs (1996). 4 These late coins are indeed rare in Israel. The IAA collections contain a few, e.g., a Class 9 follis from Bethlehem of Galilee, a Class 11 follis from ‘Akko and a few others. For late solidi of Constans II in the region, see Syon 2002. 5 For an overview and classification of this series, see Qedar 1988–1989. 6 Such a scenario would be possible according to Bates (1976, reasserted in subsequent articles), who places all Arab-Byzantine copper and gold issues in the years 692–697 CE. This opinion seems to be held by him alone (Qedar 1988–1989:28–30). REFERENCES Ariel D.T. 1996. A Hoard of Byzantine Folles from Qazrin. ‘Atiqot 29:69–76. Bates M.L. 1976. The ‘Arab-Byzantine’ Bronze Coinage of Syria: An Innovation by ‘Abd al-Malik. In M. Thompson ed. A Colloquium in Memory of George Carpenter Miles (1904–1975). New York. Pp. 16–27. Bates M.L. and Kovacs F.L. 1996. A Hoard of Large Byzantine and Arab-Byzantine Coppers. Numismatic Chronicle 156:165–173. DOC 2: P. Grierson. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection 2: Phocas to Theodosius III. 602–717. Washington, D.C. 1968. Foss C. 1999. The Coinage of Syria in the Seventh Century: The Evidence of Excavations. INJ 13:119–132. Galili E., Rosen B. and Sharvit Y. 2007. Dor—The Southern Anchorage. HA–ESI 119 (July 24). http://www.hadashot-esi.org.il/report_detail_eng. asp?id=562&mag_id=112 (accessed 16.4.2008). Galili E. and Rosen B. 2008. Fishing Gear from a 7th – Century Shipwreck off Dor, Israel. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 37:67–76. MIB I: W. Hahn. Moneta Imperii Byzantini I: Von Anastasius I bis Justinianus I (491–565) (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Philosophisch-Historische Klasse Denkschriften 109, Veröffentlichungen der Numismatischen Kommission 1). Vienna 1973. MIB II: W. Hahn. Moneta Imperii Byzantini II: Von Justinus II bis Phocas (565–610) (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Philosophisch-Historische Klasse Denkschriften 94 DANNY SYON AND EHUD GALILI 119, Veröffentlichungen der Numismatischen Kommission 4). Vienna 1975. MIB III: W. Hahn. Moneta Imperii Byzantini III: Von Heraclius bis Leo III/Alleinregierung (610–720) (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Philosophisch-Historische Klasse Denkschriften 148, Veröffentlichungen der Numismatischen Kommission 10). Vienna 1981. Papadopoli N. 1893. Le Monete di Venezia. Venice. Phillips M. and Goodwin T. 1997. A Seventh-Century Syrian Hoard of Byzantine and Imitative Copper Coins. Numismatic Chronicle 157:61–87. Qedar S. 1988–1989. Copper Coinage of Syria in the Seventh and Eighth Century A.D. INJ 10:27–39. Syon D. 2002. A Hoard of Byzantine Solidi from Hurvat Kab. INJ 14:211–223.