John VIII Palaeologus (1423-1448). AR Quarter Hyperpyron, Constantinople mint. Obv. Facing bust of Christ Pantokrator. Rev. Crowned facing bust of John. Cf. D.O. 1763; Sear 2565. AR. 3.32 g. 19.00 mm. R. Rare. Typical weak strike. Prettily toned, with reddish hues. VF. John VIII Palaeologus was the penultimate reigning Byzantine emperor. In late 1437, he traveled to the West at the invitation of Pope Eugene IV, to attend a church council in Ferrara. Both the Pope and the Emperor sought reconciliation between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, while John also hoped to obtain aid for his struggles against the advance of the Turks in what was left of the Byzantine empire. The imperial party first visited Ferrara and then,when plague swept the city, moved to Florence. Pisanello, one of the most distinguished painters of the early Italian Renaissance, was in Ferrara at the time of the imperial visit, and took the opportunity to make a series of preparatory sketches which were, in due course, to be used as the basis of the first portrait medal of the Renaissance world. (MIRB,2009,p.113).