BSBC: 1 Sear: — DO IV: — LBC: —
Mint: Magnesia
Obverse: Virgin Mary Hagiosortissa in orans, standing and facing / MHP – OV
Reverse: Emperor John (wearing Stemma, divitsion, jeweled loros of a simple type, and saigon) holding a star tipped tipped scepter and Patriarchal cross globus cruciger / Iω ΔECPOTH O ΔOUKAC, IC – XC
S. Bendall, “Some unpublished late Byzantine coins,” NumCirc (August 2002), no. 3; otherwise unpublished. Second known example after Triton XX lot 1096
BSBC: 1 Sear: 2080 DO IV: 26 LBC: 212
Mint: Magnesia
Obverse: Bust of the beardless Christ Emmanuel holding the Book of Gospels / IC – XC EMMANOUHA
Reverse: Emperor John (wearing Stemma, divitsion, jeweled loros of a simple type, and saigon) holding a Labarum tipped scepter and anexakakia, blessed by the Manus Dei (hand of God) in the upper right field / Iω ΔECPOTH O ΔOUKAC
Very Rare.
BSBC: 1 Sear: 2162 DO IV: 5 LBC: 327
Mint: Thessalonica
Obverse: Christ Pantokrator seated on a backless throne holding the Book of Gospels / IC – XC, Δ* in fields
Reverse: Emperor holding cross tipped scepter and anexakakia, crowed by Saint Demetrius, himself holding a sheathed sword / ΘΕΟΔΟΡΟC ΔΕCΠΟΤ ΟΛΓΗIΟC ΔH
BSBC: 1 Sear: 2165 DO IV: 7 LBC: 329-31
Mint: Thessalonica
Obverse: Christ Pantokrator on backless throne holding the Book of Gospels / IC – XC, ΛΙ in right field
Reverse: Emperor holding long-labarum-headed scepter in right hand, blessed by the Manus Dei (hand of God) above while receiving a castle-model of Thessalonica from Saint Michael, himself holding long jeweled scepter / ΘΕΟΔΟΡΟC ΔΕCΠΟΤ ΟΛΓΗIΟC MXH
BSBC: 1 Sear: DO IV: LBC: LPC: PCPC:
Mint: Constantinople
Obverse: Bust of Christ Pantocrator, with cross nimbus, wearing himation over chiton, r. hand in front in gesture of benediction and holding book of Gospels / IC XC
Reverse: John facing, wearing crown with pendilia and collar of three tippets / IωAИHC ΔЄCΠOTHC O ΠAΛЄOΛOΓOCΘV XAPITHBACIΛЄVC TOИPOMЄON + (“Despot John the Palaeologan, Emperor of the Romans by the Grace of God”)
StacksBowers writes: “John VIII Palaeologus (1423-1448). Manuel’s son inherited very little to rule, for by now the Empire was reduced solely to the despotate of Morea and Constantinople itself. His first wife was Anna of Moscow. John sought rapprochement with the West and even journeyed to the Council of Ferrara-Florence to bring about church unity. In Florence, his portrait was painted and Antonio Pisano called Pisanello made his celebrated medal portrait of John VIII. John died childless on October 31, 1448 and was succeeded by his younger brother, Constantine.”
The Stavraton is the final coin issued under Byzantium. It was also the heaviest silver coin ever issued by the empire (around 7-8 grams). It would be minted after John VIII only in very small numbers by Constantine XI during his wedding and the siege of 1453.
Michael VIII Palaeologus, with Andronicus II, AR Trachy. Celebrating the coronation of Andronicus II. Constantinople, AD 1272. 1.51g, 23mm, 6h.
Nimbate St. George standing facing, wearing military attire, holding spear in right hand and shield in left; [O/Є]/Φ/[Δ/Γ/Π] to left, ΓѠΡ (ligate)/Γ/[O/C] to right / Half-length figures of Michael VIII and Andronicus II facing, both wearing stemma with pendilia and loros over divitision, holding trifurate sceptre, scroll and akakia; bust of winged archangel above between M-X, placing his hands on their heads.
DOC 36; SB 2321. Fourth Known Example
BSBC: 1 Sear: 2235 DO IV: 2 LBC: —
Mint: Arta
Obverse: Saint Michael holding a spear / XM
Reverse: Despot Michael holding palmfrond and anexakakia being crowned by Emperor John III, himself holding cross tipped scepter / XM – Iω eN Xω
S. Bendall, “The Coinage of Michael II, Angelos of Epirus, 1231-1265,” in NumCirc CIV.1 (February 1996), 5. Extremely rare.
BSBC: 1 Sear: 2600 DO V: — LBC: —
Mint: Trebizond
Obverse: Virgin Mary Seated on backed throne with the infant Christ at Breast / (MHP) – OV
Reverse: Emperor holding labaram and anexakakia, Manus Dei (hand of God) blesses from above) / (MNHΛ O) KMN
Bendall, Trebizond 19. The finally silver trachy issue of Trebizond. Only aspers were minted after this issue.
Very Rare.