Uncertain Palaeologan issue, circa 1328-1354 (?). Tornese (Billon, 16 mm, 0.55 g, 4 h). Christ, nimbate, seated facing on throne, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left. Rev. Cross with two wings at each end of the bars; in angles, two B's and two five-pointed stars; all within dotted polylobe. DOC -. LBC -. LPC -. SB -. Apparently unpublished and of great interest. Minor marks, otherwise, very fine.



The classification of this exceptional coin proves difficult. At a time when Byzantine coins typically featured either the image of the emperor or - in the case of politikon issues - an explanatory legend, this piece presents a familiar seated Christ on the obverse, while the reverse is entirely anonymous. The intricately designed cross with winged terminals, set within a polylobe, faintly recalls French coinage. The two stars and the two Bs in the quadrants lend the reverse the character of a heraldic shield.

The double B is known, for instance, from assaria of Andronicus II and Michael IX (SB 3929), from later Palaiologan issues, and from anonymous coinage struck in Nicaea during the 13th century (SB 2155). The seated Christ, by contrast, evokes the Venetian grossi, but also basilika issued by Andronicus III (SB 2472), John VI (SB 2541), or certain anonymous types (SB 2587). A dating to the second quarter of the 14th century thus appears most plausible.