finest recorded speciman of the most important and final moment in Byzantine, and in fact, Roman history is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Enlargement
Maginificant Stavrata
1063. John VIII, Palaeologus. 1423-1448. Stravrata or Half hyperpyron, 7.06g (1h). Constantinople. Obv: Bust of Christ with double border enclosing eight spaced pellets. Rx: IWANHC ΔΕCΠΟΤΙC ΟΠΑΛΕΟΛΟΓΟC/ ΘV ΧΑPΙΤΙ ΑVΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡ in double row around portrait of emperor. Sear 2563. Bendall, LPC p. 172,1. Wonderfully struck. Toned Mint State $300
Constantine XI Finest Recorded
Enlargement
1064. Constantine XI, Palaeologus. Stavrata or Half hyperpyron, 6.54g (8h). Constantinople, October 30, 1448 AD -May 25, 1453 AD. Obv: Christ in himation. IC and B to left and right. Rx: KWNCTANTINOC ΔΕCΠΟΤΗC Ο ΠΑΛΕΟΛΟΓ in the outer circle. ΘV ΧΑΡΙΤΗ ΒΑCΙΛΕΩC ΡΟΜΕΟΝ in the inner circle. Portrait of emperor wearing loros. S. Bendall, Coinage of Constantine XI, Revue Numismatique 6, 1991, 76, pl. XIV (this coin). Berk, 100 Greatest Ancient Coins, p. 118 and p. 126 (this coin). Complete legends. About EF $30,000 Ex Bank Leu, Auction 50, 25 April 1990, lot 423 (SF 32000 hammer plus premium). To quote Simon Bendall from the 1990 Leu catalogue, “This is a wonderful opportunity to acquire one of the rarest and at the same time most romantic coins of the Byzantine empire”. This coin was chosen for auction by Simon Bendall and Bank Leu, who controlled the group, because lot 423 was rightly considered the finest Constantine XI coin in existence. We agree with Simon that a chance to own the
1065. Byzantine Coin Weight. One uncia, 26.26g. Obv: +VITA LVX (?) around O at center. Rx: Blank. EF $500 For discussion of Roman and Byzantine scale weight systems, see Hendin, Ancient Scale Weights, pp. 95-99.
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