Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 1842. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ITALY, Casale. Guglielmo II Paleologo. Marquis, 1494-1513. AR Testone (9.21 g, 9h). GVLIELMVS · MAR · MONT · FER · ZC, bust left, wearing biretta / + SACRI · RO · IMP · · PRINC · VICA · PP, familial coat-of-arms of Paleologo. CNI II 38; Morosini 8. Near EF, toned.

From the Leonard O. Greenfield Collection.

An ancient Greek family from Macedonia, the Paleologi (Παλαιολόγοι) escaped to the empire of Nicaea following the fourth crusade where Michael VIII Palaiologos became co-emperor in 1259, recaptured Constantinople, and was crowned emperor of the Byzantine Empire in 1261. The longest-reigning dynasty in Byzantine history, the Palaiologoi ruled until the Ottoman invasion in 1453.

On account of their relations and intermarriage with Western dynastic families, the Palaiologoi were the first imperial family to adopt Western-style coats of arms. Following Michael’s victory in 1261, four B’s were added to the arms, representing Βασιλεύς Βασιλέων, Βασιλεύων Βασιλεόντων (King of Kings, Ruling over Rulers). Also adopted was the Imperial double-headed eagle, both featured upon the family’s later arms.