The Perry-Campbell Collection: An Analysis of Byzantine and Roman Coins

The Anthropology Collections of the Nebraska State Museum are home of the Gladys G. Perry Campbell and Iain Colin Gordon Campbell (I. C. G. Campbell) coin collection, which consists of an estimated 4,000 coins that date between the 1st century BC to the 15th century AD. The collection consists of bronze coins (91%+) and billon (alloy) coins that represent low-denomination currency of the Roman and Byzantine Empires. There are approximately 3,200 Byzantine and 750 Roman coins. This study focused solely on the Byzantine coins of the Collection, to document their chronological range and research value. The collection can support further studies in various areas of Byzantine numismatics. For example, a particular strength of the collection are coins of 10th-13th centuries, with the introduction of the anonymous folles under John I, the “anonymous” and “faithful copy” trachy debate of the 11-13th c., and the Nicaean Empire from 1204-1261. The majority of coins had been previously identified by I.C.G. Campbell himself or by his assistant, Robert Kutcher. However, little work has been carried out on this significant collection since the 1990s. The goal of this study is to provide an overview of the collection and make it available to other researchers and the public for further study. Advisor: Effie Athanassopoulos