★ A New Attribution ★

Andronicus II Palaeologus, with Andronicus III. 1282-1328. AR Basilikon (20mm, 2.10 g, 6h). Constantinople(?) mint. Struck mid to late . The Theotokos enthroned facing, holding medallion of Holy Infant; MH ΘV, macron above each, across field / AVTOKPATO PЄC IOMЄON ( sic ), Andronicus II and Andronicus II standing facing, holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC –; LBC 774 (Andronicus II and Michael IX); LPC 34 (Andronicus II and Michael IX); T. Popov, “Неиздавани монети на Солунската империя, Никея и късна Византия,” Минало 2019/6, fig. 7 ( this coin ) SCBC 2405 (Andronicus II and Michael IX). Lightly toned, minor edge split. VF. Extremely rare.

Ex Naumann 77 (5 May 2019), lot 977 (where it was attributed to Andronicus II and Michael IX).

Until recently, this basilikon has been attributed to the joint reign of Andronicus II and Michael IX (1294/5-1320). The reverse legend, however, does not name specifically the individuals depicted, but employes the more generic title, Autokratores Rōmaiōn ( Autocrats of the Romans ). Thus the assumption, with little counter-argument, has been that the individuals are Andronicus II and his son, Michael IX. In 2017, T. Popov (“Две уникални късновизнтийски сребърни монети,” Минало 3 [2017]) published an example of a similar type and weight (Fig. 1-2). There, he was able to demonstrate that that coin was an issue of Andronicus II, with Andronicus III as junior emperor. Our coin, similar in weight and of the same type, has a blundered reverse legend, suggesting a necessity to mint coins quickly. According to Popov in his new article, this issue was struck following the peace agreement of 1321 between Andronicus II and his rebellious grandson, Andronicus III. Under the treaty’s terms, the younger Andronicus was recognized as co-emperor, hence the title. This peace was short-lived, however, as renewed conflicts broke out between the two until Andronicus III became sole emperor in 1328.