John V Palaeologus, 1341-1391. Stavraton (Silver, 26 mm, 8.05 g, 6 h), Constantinopolis, 1379-1391. Nimbate bust of Christ facing, holding book of Gospels, flanked by IC - XC and Є - Φ. Rev. ΙⲰ ΔЄCΠOTIC O ΠΑΛЄΟΛΟΓOC / ΘV XARITI BACIΛЄVC TⲰN PⲰMЄⲰΝ KAI AVTOKPATOP (or similar) Bust of emperor facing, bearded and nimbate, wearing domed crown and three-lobed tippet, in a double circle of legend. DOC 1291-4. LBC 898-9. PCPC 327.4. SB 2510. Nicely toned and with unusually clear legends. Very fine.



This impressive large silver coin was struck after John V escaped from captivity and regained his throne for the second time from his rebellious son, Andronicus IV Palaeologus. Andronicus had already rebelled against his father in 1373, when he allied himself with Savcı Bey, a son of the Ottoman sultan Murad I. Both princes were defeated; Murad had his son executed, while John merely had Andronicus ‘partially blinded’ - whether this meant that he lost one eye or later recovered part of his sight remains unclear. Andronicus repaid his father’s leniency by launching a second revolt in 1376, this time succeeding in capturing the capital with Genoese support. In 1379, however, John V escaped from captivity and recovered his throne with Ottoman backing, having offered them an even higher tribute than his son had promised.