Constantine (2005) - Balthazar Coin

[Mach]

I've been reviewing the recently released 4K DVD for any added clues on the coin. Unfortunately, in the bowling alley scene, the coin is digitally created and rendered at a lower resolution so the 4K print does not add much.

Going back to the prior discussion from 3 years ago, I still believe that this is the back of the coin. Its definitely inspired by a Byzantine follis due to the M. X means year ten and Anno is to the left. The mint is up for debate - seems like its longer than 3 letters, possibly 4, but too short for 5 letters like THEUP - The other option in the 4 letter category are NIKO but I cannot squint my way to say that's it.

It may be 3 letters but I cannot be sure. The digitally rendered version shows what looks like 3 lumps at the bottom but its not clear at all. The workshop symbol is gamma. I've not seen anything in the 4k version that would suggest otherwise. The only thing I would change is to complete the "O" in ANNO instead of the dot.

Big questions still exist on the front side of the coin, we can confirm the orientation of front side. Assuming the bottom of the coin back is the top of the coin front, then the center design is horizontal instead of vertical. Pictures to explain.

In the Rachel Weisz finger rolling scene, here's what the back looks like

In the next frame, the coin rolls over. Assuming the coin orientation, we can say the top, or bottom, of the coin's front, or obverse side, seems to be to the right. In other words, the diamond shape in the center is horizontally aligned to the back of the coin.

One other idea is that the digital render is mirrored from the actual coin. Either that or the symbols are very similar on both sides of the coin.

If so, we do not see a complete front side in the movie. We only see half or 3/4 of the coin in all the scenes.

That's what I've guessed so far. I'd be interest in other ideas. I'm currently looking at old occult texts for likely symbols.

 

[barbara Kyzinsk]

upon asking ChatGPT what specific coin was used in the film, and specifying that it looks like an old byzantine coin but wasn't sure, it gave me this answer and details; **LONG REPLY AHEAD! TL;DR COIN IS BASED ON THE JUSTIN II BRONZE FOLLIS BUT NOT IDENTICAL AS APPARENTLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF REAL ANCIENT BYZANTINE COINS WERE PURCHASED AT AUCTION AND USED TO CAST A MOLD FOR THE COIN, BUT IT IS NOT IDENTICAL TO A SINGLE COIN**

Identification of the Coin​

• Type: Byzantine Follis (bronze, very large flan)
• Emperor: Justin II (r. 565–578 AD)

Features a stepped cross (often shown on three steps), with Greek numerals or mintmark (typically “CONOB” for Constantinople bronze), in most reference books on Byzantine coinage you’ll find this labeled as something like “Justin II 40‑nummi follis, Constantinople mint, 565 AD.” Visually, it’s a thick bronze disk (about 25–30 mm across, often rough‑struck), with a large cross on the back—one of the most iconic mid‑6th‑century types.

Why Balthazar Has That Coin​

1. Religious/Protective Symbolism
   • By Justin II’s reign, every major bronze “follis” carried a large Christian cross on the reverse. In Dante‑style demonology (and in the comics/film’s internal logic), an object stamped with a cross of that era is effectively a ward against demons. Balthazar uses it to show Constantine and lesser demons just how powerful and fearless he is.
   • 
     
   • 
     Period Authenticity & Half‑Demon Heritage
     
     
     • Balthazar is portrayed as a half‑breed demon who once had closer ties to the celestial hierarchy. In the Constantine mythos, half‑demon clans often hoard relics and talismans from early Christendom. A Justin II follis is exactly the sort of “heirloom” that a renegade angel/demon such as Balthazar might carry—especially because it was minted under one of the last Justinianic emperors who explicitly portrayed ******’s monogram on currency
     • Holy Authority: Because Justin II’s coin shows a big cross, it forces Constantine—storywise—to recognize Balthazar's rank within the supernatural order of angels and demons.

In short, the coin is not incidental to the set‑dressing, although a Justin II bronze follis (c. 572 AD), was chosen because (a) its very iconography (a large cross on the back) works as a spiritual ward/talisman in the film’s universe, and (b) it hints at Balthazar’s half‑demon background (the idea that he possesses early Christian relics)


none of the dialogue ever calls it out by name—but the screenwriters and production designers have confirmed in interviews that they intentionally used a mid‑6th‑century Byzantine coin because its giant cross is the simplest “props‑department shorthand” for “holy protective amulet.”

1. DVD/Blu‑ray Special Features
   • On most U.S. and international releases of Constantine (2005), the “Audio Commentary” track by producer Lawrence Gordon and director Francis Lawrence includes tangential discussion about props and iconography. While they don’t dive deeply into “Justin II follis,” they do talk about how Balthazar’s trinkets were chosen to look “ancient and holy.”
   • Check the Bonus Featurette titled “Behind the Gates of Hell” (sometimes called “Hell and Back” or “Lucifer’s Playground” on different regional editions). The prop‑master (often listed simply as “Prop Master: Leigh Tookman”) explains how they sourced and distressed various medieval items for the film. In that segment you’ll see brief shots of Balthazar’s coin stash and hear them describe, “We found a handful of genuine 6th‑century proof‑struck bronze coins in specialty auctions, then cast copies for the scene.”
2. Special Edition/4K Ultra HD Releases
   • Later “Collector’s Edition” sets (for example, the 2018 4K Ultra HD double‑disc) include a documentary titled “Dark City to Hell and Back”. In that documentary, production designer Henry Bumstead Jr. (his name appears in the credits as the set designer under Francis Lawrence) briefly discusses the decision to use authentic‑looking Byzantine talismans. He specifically mentions, “We used a Justin II bronze disk because of its giant cross: it reads on camera as both currency and as a spiritual ward.”

• American Cinematographer (Nov/Dec 2005 Issue)
  • There is a two‑page spread in American Cinematographer that focuses on “Cinematography and Production Design” in Constantine. Although the article’s main subject is Matthew Libatique’s lighting, there’s a sidebar called “Props That Punch”. In that sidebar, art‑department head Neil Lamont (often credited as “Set Dresser: Neil Lamont”) says, “We wanted Balthazar to brandish a coin that would clearly repel demons—hence a large copper piece with a patriarchal cross. A Justin II follis suited our era and looked visually striking.”
• Entertainment Weekly #840 (June 2005)
  • In the “On the Set” column, EW interviewed co‑writers Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello. At one point they’re talking about “Constantine’s deals with hell,” and Cappello quips, “Yeah, the coin that Balthazar hands him isn’t a U.S. silver dollar—it's almost 1,500 years old, so you instantly know Hell has a long memory. We chose a Justin II piece because it wasn’t just a gimmick: it’s stamped with a giant cross, so it becomes a universal Christian icon, not just ‘movie props coin.’”

1. Cinefex Magazine #101 (July 2005)
   • Although Cinefex is primarily VFX‑oriented, their “Artifact Files” section occasionally delves into prop choices. In this issue, there’s a brief mention under “Practical Hellscape Elements,” where the prop‑master mentions “We tracked down a dealer in London who specializes in Late Antique coins— They shipped us some including a Justin II follis, something around 570 AD, then we cast silicone molds for the on‑screen pieces.”

Comic‑Con/Convention Panels (2005–2006)​

1. Wizard World Philadelphia (August 2005)
   • Constantine’s panel (hosted by Drew McWeeny from Ain’t It Cool News) included a short Q&A with producer Lawrence Gordon, art director Mark “Marty” Shulman, and screenwriter Frank Cappello. When an audience member asked, “What’s with the coin Balthazar gives John?”, Cappello said, “It’s a real Byzantine piece—something from the Justinian line—and we used it because that era’s currency literally displays the cross. We needed a talisman rather than a movie prop.”
   • The audio from this panel circulated on a few fan podcasts (for example, “Stuck in the Past” Podcast, Episode 17, September 2005). If you search YouTube or Archive.org for “Wizard World Constantine Prop Coin,” you can usually find a rip of that Q&A.
2. San Diego Comic‑Con (2006, Constantine 1‑Year Anniversary)
   • At the SDCC panel, “Hell & Hollywood: The Making of Constantine,” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura mentions in passing, “We specifically wanted a mid‑6th century follis to underscore Balthazar’s half‑demon roots—he’s carrying a piece of real church‑era relic.” Clips of that panel were posted to the official SDCC YouTube channel (look for “SDCC05 Constantine panel” or check the panel schedule archives on ComicCon.org to find video links).

Prop Collector/Reference Websites​

1. Hollywood Movie Props Forum (propstore.com / hollywoodpropsforum.com)
   • Collectors who attended EBay auctions of “screen‑used” Constantine props occasionally post photos of the Justin II-like coin. The forum threads discuss its weight, diameter, and how it matches catalog numbers in Spink’s Byzantine Coin Catalog. Searching there for “Constantine Balthazar Coin” or “Justin II follis Constantine” will turn up thread posts (with insiders confirming “it’s a real 572 AD Justin II follis mold”).
2. ReplicaPropForum.com
   
   
   • Users who attempted to make their own “Constantine” coins reverse‑engineered the props. They point out that the die‑style (with the stepped cross on the reverse) matches the typical “40 nummi” follis from Justin II. One detailed breakdown (user “ByzantineBuff” in January 2007) even links to the Numista entry for “Justin II follis (CONOB, Constantinople, 572 AD)” to show how the film’s coin is a nearly exact copy.

By combining these sources, you’ll see multiple references—both from production‑department personnel and from numismatic experts—confirming that Balthazar’s coin is indeed a 572 AD Justin II bronze follis chosen expressly for its giant reverse cross and “ancient Christian ballast.”










Now, I do understand ChatGPT can make mistakes, but, this answer was extremely detailed and with many sources given for proof, and while I have not checked those sources to confirm the answer is correct, at least this gives us more leads to follow and check the validity of to confirm if the coin is a complete version of the justin II byzantine follis, or if one side is used for both sides, or if one side was upside down or taken from another byzantine coin, to hopefully determine once and for all what the coin looked like on both sides. Maybe someone could search for a replica of a Justin II byzantine follis and make a mold? or design a similar style coin and 3D print it to create a mold? Personally, I think I'm just going to look for replica coins of the same era byzantine follis regardless of it one side is different, just to add a close match to Balthazars coin to my collection. Hope this helps!

 

[laellee]

Mach I was just looking at Byzantine era coins a couple of days ago, could the lower inscription be CONOB? That also fits the timeline for mints that were producing in the late 6th century, as does Nichomedia (NIKO) and Antioch (THEUP,THEUPO).

CONOB would be CON (representing mint at Constantinople), + OB (short for Obryzum). Obryzum translates to "1/72 of a pound of pure gold".

I suppose this is all conjecture without a better reference image (or the actual coin lol, it's gotta be somewhere)

 

[Mach]

upon asking ChatGPT what specific coin was used in the film, and specifying that it looks like an old byzantine coin but wasn't sure, it gave me this answer and details; **LONG REPLY AHEAD! TL;DR COIN IS BASED ON THE JUSTIN II BRONZE FOLLIS BUT NOT IDENTICAL AS APPARENTLY A LARGE AMOUNT OF REAL ANCIENT BYZANTINE COINS WERE PURCHASED AT AUCTION AND USED TO CAST A MOLD FOR THE COIN, BUT IT IS NOT IDENTICAL TO A SINGLE COIN**

Identification of the Coin​

• Type: Byzantine Follis (bronze, very large flan)
• Emperor: Justin II (r. 565–578 AD)

Features a stepped cross (often shown on three steps), with Greek numerals or mintmark (typically “CONOB” for Constantinople bronze), in most reference books on Byzantine coinage you’ll find this labeled as something like “Justin II 40‑nummi follis, Constantinople mint, 565 AD.” Visually, it’s a thick bronze disk (about 25–30 mm across, often rough‑struck), with a large cross on the back—one of the most iconic mid‑6th‑century types.

Why Balthazar Has That Coin​

1. Religious/Protective Symbolism
   • By Justin II’s reign, every major bronze “follis” carried a large Christian cross on the reverse. In Dante‑style demonology (and in the comics/film’s internal logic), an object stamped with a cross of that era is effectively a ward against demons. Balthazar uses it to show Constantine and lesser demons just how powerful and fearless he is.
   • 
     
   • 
     Period Authenticity & Half‑Demon Heritage
     • Balthazar is portrayed as a half‑breed demon who once had closer ties to the celestial hierarchy. In the Constantine mythos, half‑demon clans often hoard relics and talismans from early Christendom. A Justin II follis is exactly the sort of “heirloom” that a renegade angel/demon such as Balthazar might carry—especially because it was minted under one of the last Justinianic emperors who explicitly portrayed ******’s monogram on currency
     • Holy Authority: Because Justin II’s coin shows a big cross, it forces Constantine—storywise—to recognize Balthazar's rank within the supernatural order of angels and demons.

In short, the coin is not incidental to the set‑dressing, although a Justin II bronze follis (c. 572 AD), was chosen because (a) its very iconography (a large cross on the back) works as a spiritual ward/talisman in the film’s universe, and (b) it hints at Balthazar’s half‑demon background (the idea that he possesses early Christian relics)


none of the dialogue ever calls it out by name—but the screenwriters and production designers have confirmed in interviews that they intentionally used a mid‑6th‑century Byzantine coin because its giant cross is the simplest “props‑department shorthand” for “holy protective amulet.”

1. DVD/Blu‑ray Special Features
   • On most U.S. and international releases of Constantine (2005), the “Audio Commentary” track by producer Lawrence Gordon and director Francis Lawrence includes tangential discussion about props and iconography. While they don’t dive deeply into “Justin II follis,” they do talk about how Balthazar’s trinkets were chosen to look “ancient and holy.”
   • Check the Bonus Featurette titled “Behind the Gates of Hell” (sometimes called “Hell and Back” or “Lucifer’s Playground” on different regional editions). The prop‑master (often listed simply as “Prop Master: Leigh Tookman”) explains how they sourced and distressed various medieval items for the film. In that segment you’ll see brief shots of Balthazar’s coin stash and hear them describe, “We found a handful of genuine 6th‑century proof‑struck bronze coins in specialty auctions, then cast copies for the scene.”
2. Special Edition/4K Ultra HD Releases
   • Later “Collector’s Edition” sets (for example, the 2018 4K Ultra HD double‑disc) include a documentary titled “Dark City to Hell and Back”. In that documentary, production designer Henry Bumstead Jr. (his name appears in the credits as the set designer under Francis Lawrence) briefly discusses the decision to use authentic‑looking Byzantine talismans. He specifically mentions, “We used a Justin II bronze disk because of its giant cross: it reads on camera as both currency and as a spiritual ward.”

• American Cinematographer (Nov/Dec 2005 Issue)
  • There is a two‑page spread in American Cinematographer that focuses on “Cinematography and Production Design” in Constantine. Although the article’s main subject is Matthew Libatique’s lighting, there’s a sidebar called “Props That Punch”. In that sidebar, art‑department head Neil Lamont (often credited as “Set Dresser: Neil Lamont”) says, “We wanted Balthazar to brandish a coin that would clearly repel demons—hence a large copper piece with a patriarchal cross. A Justin II follis suited our era and looked visually striking.”
• Entertainment Weekly #840 (June 2005)
  • In the “On the Set” column, EW interviewed co‑writers Kevin Brodbin and Frank Cappello. At one point they’re talking about “Constantine’s deals with hell,” and Cappello quips, “Yeah, the coin that Balthazar hands him isn’t a U.S. silver dollar—it's almost 1,500 years old, so you instantly know Hell has a long memory. We chose a Justin II piece because it wasn’t just a gimmick: it’s stamped with a giant cross, so it becomes a universal Christian icon, not just ‘movie props coin.’”

1. Cinefex Magazine #101 (July 2005)
   • Although Cinefex is primarily VFX‑oriented, their “Artifact Files” section occasionally delves into prop choices. In this issue, there’s a brief mention under “Practical Hellscape Elements,” where the prop‑master mentions “We tracked down a dealer in London who specializes in Late Antique coins— They shipped us some including a Justin II follis, something around 570 AD, then we cast silicone molds for the on‑screen pieces.”

Comic‑Con/Convention Panels (2005–2006)​

1. Wizard World Philadelphia (August 2005)
   • Constantine’s panel (hosted by Drew McWeeny from Ain’t It Cool News) included a short Q&A with producer Lawrence Gordon, art director Mark “Marty” Shulman, and screenwriter Frank Cappello. When an audience member asked, “What’s with the coin Balthazar gives John?”, Cappello said, “It’s a real Byzantine piece—something from the Justinian line—and we used it because that era’s currency literally displays the cross. We needed a talisman rather than a movie prop.”
   • The audio from this panel circulated on a few fan podcasts (for example, “Stuck in the Past” Podcast, Episode 17, September 2005). If you search YouTube or Archive.org for “Wizard World Constantine Prop Coin,” you can usually find a rip of that Q&A.
2. San Diego Comic‑Con (2006, Constantine 1‑Year Anniversary)
   • At the SDCC panel, “Hell & Hollywood: The Making of Constantine,” producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura mentions in passing, “We specifically wanted a mid‑6th century follis to underscore Balthazar’s half‑demon roots—he’s carrying a piece of real church‑era relic.” Clips of that panel were posted to the official SDCC YouTube channel (look for “SDCC05 Constantine panel” or check the panel schedule archives on ComicCon.org to find video links).

Prop Collector/Reference Websites​

1. Hollywood Movie Props Forum (propstore.com / hollywoodpropsforum.com)
   • Collectors who attended EBay auctions of “screen‑used” Constantine props occasionally post photos of the Justin II-like coin. The forum threads discuss its weight, diameter, and how it matches catalog numbers in Spink’s Byzantine Coin Catalog. Searching there for “Constantine Balthazar Coin” or “Justin II follis Constantine” will turn up thread posts (with insiders confirming “it’s a real 572 AD Justin II follis mold”).
2. ReplicaPropForum.com
   • Users who attempted to make their own “Constantine” coins reverse‑engineered the props. They point out that the die‑style (with the stepped cross on the reverse) matches the typical “40 nummi” follis from Justin II. One detailed breakdown (user “ByzantineBuff” in January 2007) even links to the Numista entry for “Justin II follis (CONOB, Constantinople, 572 AD)” to show how the film’s coin is a nearly exact copy.

By combining these sources, you’ll see multiple references—both from production‑department personnel and from numismatic experts—confirming that Balthazar’s coin is indeed a 572 AD Justin II bronze follis chosen expressly for its giant reverse cross and “ancient Christian ballast.”










Now, I do understand ChatGPT can make mistakes, but, this answer was extremely detailed and with many sources given for proof, and while I have not checked those sources to confirm the answer is correct, at least this gives us more leads to follow and check the validity of to confirm if the coin is a complete version of the justin II byzantine follis, or if one side is used for both sides, or if one side was upside down or taken from another byzantine coin, to hopefully determine once and for all what the coin looked like on both sides. Maybe someone could search for a replica of a Justin II byzantine follis and make a mold? or design a similar style coin and 3D print it to create a mold? Personally, I think I'm just going to look for replica coins of the same era byzantine follis regardless of it one side is different, just to add a close match to Balthazars coin to my collection. Hope this helps!

Holy updates batman! If only a few references prove accurate, that's amazing! Time to dig in. I still don't understand how the obverse side can be a real follis but time to check. 572 is pretty specific and doesn't add up. I'm pretty confident the large X is year ten of which ever ruler it came from. Year 10 for Justin II would be 575.

 

[Mach]

Mach I was just looking at Byzantine era coins a couple of days ago, could the lower inscription be CONOB? That also fits the timeline for mints that were producing in the late 6th century, as does Nichomedia (NIKO) and Antioch (THEUP,THEUPO).

CONOB would be CON (representing mint at Constantinople), + OB (short for Obryzum). Obryzum translates to "1/72 of a pound of pure gold".

I suppose this is all conjecture without a better reference image (or the actual coin lol, it's gotta be somewhere)

CON definitely is a possibility. I've not seen the OB addition though. Oh yeah, we're going to find it if its a real coin then this became much easier.

 

[laellee]

CON definitely is a possibility. I've not seen the OB addition though. Oh yeah, we're going to find it if its a real coin then this became much easier.

Well the easiest way for the screen used coin to show up is this- One of us scans or 3d models a coin up, makes a few casts of the close enough coin, and BOOM the original will show up. This is happened to me like five times no joke

 

[Mach]

So far this reads like AI fiction. Each reference so far does not check out. Please prove me wrong on any of these.

1) No ByzantineBuff user on RPF
2) Not sure what the other prop forums are
3) SDCC in 2006 did not host the panel described
4) WW2005 was hosted in June not August. The movie released on Feb 18th, 2005. Not sure why they would have been hyping it in Aug or June
5) Cinefex 101 did not feature Constantine. 102 did but did not mention the coin.
6) Entertainment weekly 840 is from Sept 2005, not June. No Constantine in either. Frank Capello was not included in filming. See his youtube.
7) Dark City to Hell and Back is a Frank Miller title. Harry Bumstead Jr is not in IMDB
8) American Cinematographer did not have a section called props that punch. It did feature the hellscape scenes in April 2005 though.
9) There is no bonus feature called the Gates of Hell or similar. Not sure who Leah Tookman is.

 

[laellee]

So far this reads like AI fiction. Each reference so far does not check out. Please prove me wrong on any of these.

1) No ByzantineBuff user on RPF
2) Not sure what the other prop forums are
3) SDCC in 2006 did not host the panel described
4) WW2005 was hosted in June not August. The movie released on Feb 18th, 2005. Not sure why they would have been hyping it in Aug or June
5) Cinefex 101 did not feature Constantine. 102 did but did not mention the coin.
6) Entertainment weekly 840 is from Sept 2005, not June. No Constantine in either. Frank Capello was not included in filming. See his youtube.
7) Dark City to Hell and Back is a Frank Miller title. Harry Bumstead Jr is not in IMDB
8) American Cinematographer did not have a section called props that punch. It did feature the hellscape scenes in April 2005 though.
9) There is no bonus feature called the Gates of Hell or similar. Not sure who Leah Tookman is.

That's how I read it too. Quite a few lawyers are being sanctioned these days for letting AI generate brief data; I love it (My original career proving a lot of vampires will still cheat when they are overpaid).

 

[laellee]

That's how I read it too. Quite a few lawyers are being sanctioned these days for letting AI generate brief data; I love it (My original career proving a lot of vampires will still cheat when they are overpaid).

Right!?!?!?!?!?
Probably too much info but I am 50 and practiced (and fake taught) criminal a long time ago.

Popping the coins out is easy, I just wish we had reliable sourcework.

 

[barbara Kyzinsk]

Mach I was just looking at Byzantine era coins a couple of days ago, could the lower inscription be CONOB? That also fits the timeline for mints that were producing in the late 6th century, as does Nichomedia (NIKO) and Antioch (THEUP,THEUPO).

CONOB would be CON (representing mint at Constantinople), + OB (short for Obryzum). Obryzum translates to "1/72 of a pound of pure gold".

I suppose this is all conjecture without a better reference image (or the actual coin lol, it's gotta be somewhere)

Yes I agree, I doubt they were looking for a specific date or coin, the info it gave when I asked for details as to the sources and interviews that it originally just said "based on information from various sources and interviews with crew members the coin used was a real byzantine follis from the era of Just

So far this reads like AI fiction. Each reference so far does not check out. Please prove me wrong on any of these.

1) No ByzantineBuff user on RPF
2) Not sure what the other prop forums are
3) SDCC in 2006 did not host the panel described
4) WW2005 was hosted in June not August. The movie released on Feb 18th, 2005. Not sure why they would have been hyping it in Aug or June
5) Cinefex 101 did not feature Constantine. 102 did but did not mention the coin.
6) Entertainment weekly 840 is from Sept 2005, not June. No Constantine in either. Frank Capello was not included in filming. See his youtube.
7) Dark City to Hell and Back is a Frank Miller title. Harry Bumstead Jr is not in IMDB
8) American Cinematographer did not have a section called props that punch. It did feature the hellscape scenes in April 2005 though.
9) There is no bonus feature called the Gates of Hell or similar. Not sure who Leah Tookman is.

I understand the frustration, but please, I'd appreciate it if you didn't place the frustration and/or anger towards me as if I was claiming definitive proof or trying to debunk the claims of other members... I was simply posting what it gave me in an attempt to help. This is why I mentioned that chatGPT can make mistakes, and that I had not fact checked the info yet, and stated that at least we had more potential leads to follow and check the validity of, key words being 'POTENTIAL' not proven, and checking the 'VALIDITY' as I wasn't going to take it as 100% correct with not a single error in names or dates as I KNEW if any of the info was wrong, there would be someone who would attribute it to being MY information and belief from my personal research, and not just various information compiled by AI that it is. I was simply posting it to try and help since over the years there's been hardly any further updates as to the coin or attempting to replicate it, so asking further questions, or questioning it's answers and asking for clarification or links to the information, is most likely needed..I see now that was a mistake, and in the future if I DO find the correct coin or information on it, I'll be sure NOT to share it as I'd prefer no to be crucified again over mistakes, especially ones that I am not responsible for making no claiming.
As for "ByzantineBuff" it could be referring to a user who changed their name, a user who's since been banned, a user from a different prop forum such as themoviepropforum, propsummit, a website and the info attributed to it coming from a post on another site, fb group, or reddit thread, I have no idea, I havn't been a member long enough nor did I, as I said, check all the information, but I use to pro model of chatGPT so it isn't the basic free one it has different engines for different tasks that use basic or advanced reasoning depending on the task and engine used.

As for the "dark city to hell and back", it could also be the that could be a reference to the article of the same name from February of this year where they interview the director Francis Lawrence and reads as follows (may not be the full interview, or there may be audio of it somewhere, I don't know) "In 2005, the chain-smoking occult hero from the Hellblazer comic book was introduced to new audiences in the Keanu Reeves-starring Constantine, inspiring fans worldwide and launching a cult appreciation for the film that still endures today. Now, exactly twenty years later, Constantine is being rereleased on Digital and Blu-ray in 4K for the first time with an ***impressive new slate of bonus features commemorating the movie’s 20th Anniversary****. To celebrate this new edition of his very first film, we spoke with Constantine’s director, Francis Lawrence, about what it took to adapt a complex character like John Constantine, the trials and tribulations of staying tonally accurate to the original stories and what that long-discussed sequel might be like." Has anyone watched all the bonus features? perhaps a version of the film with director commentary if available like with some of the Breaking Bad secrets reveals with Vinces commentary in episodes? Did you happen to search for the alternate titles of the featurette it gives such as "hell and back" or "lucifers playground"?



With SDCC2006, the year may have gotten mixed up, or other mistakes from info available online. Did you search for “Hell & Hollywood: The Making of Constantine,” or "Constantine - Year 1 Anniversary interview" or constantine cast and crew panel comiccon"? Or perhaps "
producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura mentions how they chose Balthazars coin", or perhaps his quote “We specifically wanted a mid‑6th century follis to underscore Balthazar’s half‑demon roots—he’s carrying a piece of real church‑era relic.”? Or searching for clips of that panel that it claims were posted to the official SDCC YouTube channel? Or used the Seach guide it added when it said "look for “SDCC05 Constantine panel” or check the panel schedule archives on ComicCon.org to find video links"?


with the WizardWorld q&a, did you try to search for anything like "aint it cool news constantine movie q&a with producer lawrence gordan, art director mark shulman, and screenwriter frank cappello" to see if the dates were wrong? Or search for the audio from this panel that it claimed was circulated on a few fan podcasts (for example, “Stuck in the Past” Podcast, Episode 17, September 2005). Or searching YouTube or Archive.org for “Wizard World Constantine Prop Coin,” where it says you can usually find a rip of the audio of that Q&A.?


For the cinefex article, did you do a search for what it said was in the article; the "Artifact Files” section that occasionally delves into prop choices and in whichever number issue it really is, they claim there’s a brief mention under “Practical Hellscape Elements,” where the prop‑master is said to have mentioned “We tracked down a dealer in London who specializes in Late Antique coins


Frank Cappello wrote the screenplay for the film, he didn't direct it.

Harry Bumstead Jr is not in IMDB, either because ChatGPT got the name wrong, the answer may have included information related to the TV series. But it did say his name appears in the credits as the set designer under Francis Lawrence, did you verify if that was correct or not?


as for "props that punch" and "leah tookman", I have no idea and will have to ask further more specific questions and follow up questions as like I said, ChatGPT can make mistakes and my be including information or names of people involved in the show, people who were uncredited, or videos of Q&As no longer easily found or saved since they're from 20 years ago. And while it can make mistakes, I hardly believe it simply made everything up and instead compiled information it found that may have been attributed to a regular persons posts making specific claims or uploading the old clips, I don't know, but it's information that can atleast be further investigated and used to ask ChatGPT to provide further proof and where to currently find it with source links included.



My apologies for attempting to help... maybe I'll try and tackle this one on my own and post the replica coin when I can distinctively prove if it is a justin II byzantine follis or what the actual coin was? Then just let thread stay dead for another few years since nobody else was able to find anything conclusive even with the 4K screenshots, if you'd prefer that route, either option is completely fine by me.

 

[laellee]

No disrespect meant to anyone, But I read through the first AI-generated evidence post.... and I just read through that whole post.

I didn't jump in here to appreciate or devalue AI. But I have also now found myself in a situation where I have read many many paragraphs, and I am nowhere closer to reproducing the Constantine coin.

I don't want AI to answer questions here, I prefer the natural fallability of people. I also want everyone to feel comfortable to contribute. I can't speak for Mach, but
my research on this, which is not even a prop I'm focused on, turned into an hour and change. Let's stick with the succinct contributions if we can please.

 

[Mach]

did you verify if that was...

Yes I did, four hours all told. I'm not spending more time fact checking generative AI. At this point, I'd respectfully ask that you start your own thread on this topic.

 

[barbara Kyzinsk]

Right, an hour and some change and as you said, no closer. It took me 30 seconds to ask the 2 questions, 1 minute for chatgpt to scan through hundreds of sites, 30 seconds for me to copy and paste the info, and 20min to google search each of your questions regarding the info, which I agree, yes, I should have fact checked it before posting and I apologize for that and had no intention of wasting your time or anyone elses. I only did so because I've used ChatGPT before to find out information that is usually correct, on tons of different searches and questions. I used it to find a random sale listing linked from a pintrest post to find an authentic west german clown mask that I'd previously spent years looking for (anyone familiar with the mask knows how hard they are to find.), and I've used it to ask follow up questions when I watch Adam Savages prop videos on his YouTube channel, and because I don't use the free version with the basic engine, I've got the pro version that is fairly advanced in how deep it searches and it's reasoning/'intelligence'. I will ask more detailed questions regarding the information that it gave that can't be found to be verified and thus cannot correctly verify the actual coin, but, I do believe that the coin is, or was based on, the Byzantine Follis from the time period of the reign of Justin II. Not only because of previous research noting the similarities and even the prior reason given regarding Justin II going mad and Balthazar possibly having been responsible which, IMO, is the PERFECT mix of fact and fiction. It also perfectly fits Balthazar's persona with influencing people with his whispers to trick them, make them believe things that are false, or cause hallucinations that end in their deaths. With ChatGPT giving the same answer, and with so much information, wherever it got it, I just don't think is a coincidence even though we don't yet have proof of what the exact coin looks like, or if it's a real coin, or possibly 2 different coins front and back as a prior theory proposed, and need to do further research. Again, I apologize for not fact checking the information it gave first, it's honestly a bit embarrassing, and while I will continue to search and use AI as a tool in aiding that search, I will not post any information given to me without first fact checking it as I understand that I can not only be frustrating when you find out it doesn't match up, but can also be misleading to those who read it at face value. I also completely understand if you'd like the post removed to reduce the belief that the information is factual. Again, I cannot express how sorry I am, how embarrassed I feel, and how disappointed I am for not first checking before posting

 

[barbara Kyzinsk]

Yes I did, four hours all told. I'm not spending more time fact checking generative AI. At this point, I'd respectfully ask that you start your own thread on this topic.

I have absolutely no issue with that, everyone has their own preferred methods, but it seemed that without high resolution screenshots in the 4K release, it was a dead end, so I figured why not. Again, I apologize the information was not able to be verified and I will be using my own time to ask why I was given that information and where that information was specifically found, such as a specific YouTube link to the q&a it quoted, and will not make a post regarding the coin until I have a verifiable answer. Has anyone attempted to reach out the anyone in the prop department, Visual Effects department, or who was part of the films production to ask about the coin?

 

[Mach]

Yes I emailed Mr. Murphy who was listed as an ESC Visual Effects Supervisor in Cinefex 102. I have been pleasantly surprised in the past when contacting production personnel so fingers crossed. I figured I'd start here and contact Tippett and CIS next if Mr. Murphy does not respond.

 

[Mach]

Mach I was just looking at Byzantine era coins a couple of days ago, could the lower inscription be CONOB? That also fits the timeline for mints that were producing in the late 6th century, as does Nichomedia (NIKO) and Antioch (THEUP,THEUPO).

CONOB would be CON (representing mint at Constantinople), + OB (short for Obryzum). Obryzum translates to "1/72 of a pound of pure gold".

I suppose this is all conjecture without a better reference image (or the actual coin lol, it's gotta be somewhere)

I did some checking on the OB reference. The Follis coin, denoted by the large M on the reverse, means a value of 40 nummi and was only struck in bronze. The Solidus coin, worth 7200 nummi, were gold and had the OB denoting the 1/72 pound of pure gold. In summary, the coin that we are looking for would only have CON on it, of it was minted in Constantinople.

https://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/worth.html

Byzantine Mints — Beth Shean After Antiquity

beth-shean.squarespace.com

Minute details of minting in Constantinople

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I had, “for my sins or for whatever reason”, been reading A Corpus of the Nomismata from 713-976 in Constantinople by Franz Füeg.1 This was n…

tenthmedieval.wordpress.com

 

[Mach]

A few interviews have popped up with cast members on the 20th anniversary. There's one with Max Baker and Gavin Rossdale. Not many details on the coin other than this:

In terms of prep, I read that a magician taught you the coin trick.
For three to four months, I just did it every day with that specific coin. And then, of course, my first scene was in a stairwell. I was like, “What, defy gravity as well?” If I do that with the coin on my hand, it might fall down! So we did it. The specific size was quite a bit bigger than a quarter. I imagine if I got it back, it probably wouldn’t take me very long to get it again.

Did you get to keep it?
They take your lunch, they take the water they gave you, they take it all back.

I feel like you should have it.
Ringing up Warner Brothers and asking for that coin that I used in a movie won’t get very far, I feel.

https://www.vulture.com/article/gavin-rossdale-answers-all-our-questions-about-constantine.html

 

[barbara Kyzinsk]

edit;

 

[Krats]

OK, you've got me interested. Spent the afternoon learning about Byzantine Emperors, where they had their coins minted and scrolling through eBay listings. I started out hoping to acquire a reasonably correct follis... and now I've gone down the rabbit hole and won't settle for anything less than a nice crisp coin from the 10th year of an Emperor's reign.

Locating anything correct for the obverse seems like a long shot. Maybe it's been adjusted by production to be an easter egg of some kind? I wondered if the letters "IHTAER" were from someone's name, perhaps a member of the crew or one of the writers? I've had a hunt around but come up blank so far. Like Laellee says, perhaps if one of us makes a casting of something, the correct version will show up!

 

[laellee]

OK, you've got me interested. Spent the afternoon learning about Byzantine Emperors, where they had their coins minted and scrolling through eBay listings. I started out hoping to acquire a reasonably correct follis... and now I've gone down the rabbit hole and won't settle for anything less than a nice crisp coin from the 10th year of an Emperor's reign.

Locating anything correct for the obverse seems like a long shot. Maybe it's been adjusted by production to be an easter egg of some kind? I wondered if the letters "IHTAER" were from someone's name, perhaps a member of the crew or one of the writers? I've had a hunt around but come up blank so far. Like Laellee says, perhaps if one of us makes a casting of something, the correct version will show up!

I'm glad you brought this up; Ironically, the first place I went after looking at Mach 's posting was IMDB to see who worked on the movie in props and design. I've seen this a whole bunch in movie props over the years, the people will incorporate their names or some equivalent identifier that really NOBODY should ever figure out unless they are crazy like us. My last one I think was while I was putting together a Mr. Jingles (Green Mile) prop set with his cigar-box 'house'. I had everything sorted EXCEPT that wooden thread spool he rolls around, I had correct vintage spools but none with the correct Kerti-Hindman manufacturer:

After a lot of fruitless searching, I thought 'well why not reach out to the prop dept/art director/whatever on IMDB, maybe get a lead'... Lo and behold, in the cast credits I got my answer