★ Unusually heavy (4.79 g) ★

John III Ducas (Vatatzes), emperor of Nicaea, 1222-1254. Hyperpyron (Gold, 28 mm, 4.79 g, 6 h), Magnesia. Christ, nimbate, seated facing on throne, wearing tunic and pallium, raising his right hand in benediction and holding book of Gospels in his left; in field to left and right, IC - XC; in field to left, cross. Rev. John III standing facing on the left, wearing divitision and loros, holding anexikakia in his left hand and labarum in his right, crowned by the Virgin Mary, nimbate, standing facing on the right. SB 2073. A beautifully struck and unusually heavy example. Good extremely fine.