John III Ducas-Vatatzes (Empire of Nicaea), 1222 AD – 1254 AD

Trachy, Magnesia circa 1222-1254 AD, AR 32 mm, 2.49 g. MHP [ΘV] Full-length figure of Theotokos, nimbate, in orans, wearing tunic and maphorion; Four dots in either field. Rev. [Iω ΔЄCΠOTHC] O D8KAC Full-length figure of emperor, bearded, wearing divitision, loros, sagion, and stemma with pendilia, r. hand holding star-tipped-sceptre and l. partriarchal globus cruciger. Sear –. LBC –. DOC –. S. Bendall, “Some unpublished late Byzantine coins,” NumCirc (August 2002), no. 3.
Of the highest rarity, apparently the second specimen known of this type. Overstruck on
obverse and edge slightly chipped, otherwise good very fine

Unlike the Bendall specimen, this coin is overstruck on a hitherto unknown second type, in effect making this coin both the second known of one type and first of another. An overstrike on half of the obverse gives credence to the theory that trachea were struck with two different dies for the respective left and right halves of the obverse. This example seems to have been struck in error with dies intended for two different coin types used on one example. Visible on the right half of the obverse is Christ Pantocrator seated on a backless throne. The cruciform halo, book of gospels, throne, cushion, and legend “XC” are all visible.
Christ Pantocrator on a backless throne is only known from one contemporary AR coin type, DO 22*. That type and this example differ in the presence of sigla. DO 22 has no sigla whereas this specimen has a crescent moon sigla, indicating that the underlying type on this example is a hitherto completely unknown AR type. The throne and cushion of the Pantocrator design on this example do not so much resemble DO 22 in style as the AU hyperpyron of John (DO 1-19). Indeed, hyperpyron DOC 10b shares the same sigla. It might plausibly be inferred from this overstrike that the AU hyperpyra of John were struck in AR (perhaps as a test strike) and subsequently recycled as other types. The cataloguer was unable to find a conclusive hyperpyron die match.
Alternatively, the sigla could be connected to DOC 34a. While that type features a different throne design that is backed, perhaps the backless throne is a yet unknown variant of the type. However, such significant variations are practically unheard of and in the cataloguer’s opinion, based on the style and composition of Christ’s throne, the former theory holds more credence. This exciting specimen is a chance to own a one of a kind trachy, two types of rarity combined in one example. Of the highest rarity.
*DO 20 is incorrectly catalogued as having a backless throne. The plate coin and other known examples exhibit a backed throne.