Anna of Savoy, as regent of Thessalonica, 1351-circa 1365. Assarion (Bronze, 17 mm, 1.56 g, 6 h), Thessalonica, 1354-1365. [Δ/H]/M/T/P/O - [...]O[...] Facing bust of St. Demetrius, nimbate, holding spear in his right hand.
Rev. Anna standing facing, wearing loros and crown with pendilia, holding scepter surmounted byt trefoil ornament in her right hand and city model of Thessalonica in her left; in fields, A - Π. Bendall, LPC -. DOC -. H.-U. Geiger and F. Füeg: Neues zur Münzprägung der Palaiologenzeit: Michael VIII., Andronikos II., Matthaios, Johannes V. und Anna, F. Gattilusio, in: Schweizer Münzblätter 217 (2005), p. 5, 5 (
this coin). Nicol/Bendall, Anna of Savoy in Thessalonica: The Numismatic Evidence, in: Revue Numismatique 19 (1977), p. 87-102, - SB -. Unique and of great historical interest. Some areas of weakness and with light deposits
, otherwise, about very fine.
From the collection of Prof. Dr. Hans-Ulrich Geiger, formed over the past 70 years.
This unique piece is an exceptionally important coin representing a historically fascinating period: the largely autonomous rule of Anna of Savoy in Thessalonica. This autonomy is illustrated by the designs on both sides of the coin. Anna is depicted standing en face in imperial robes, holding a scepter in her right hand as a symbol of authority and a model of the city she governs in her left. She is supported by St. Demetrius, the city’s patron saint, shown nimbate and in military attire on the obverse. Anna’s sole rule began on 10 December 1354, when John VI Kantakouzenos was forced to abdicate by her son, John V Palaiologos, who had seized Constantinople with Genoese support. John governed the empire from the capital, while his mother ruled largely autonomously over one of its most important cities, Thessalonica, until her death, holding the titles Augusta and Autokratorissa. With this authority, she also controlled the imperial mint of Thessalonica, where she issued a small series of coin types, all of which are extremely rare today. In fact, the present type is currently known in this unique specimen from the collection of Professor Hans-Ulrich Geiger.
