CNG 96, Lot: 1039. Estimate $750. Sold for $2500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

John V Palaeologus, with John VI. 1341-1391. AR Basilikon (18mm, 0.82 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 1347-1353. Christ Pantokrator standing facing within mandorla composed of pellets; line extending downward from each side of nimbus / John V and John VI standing facing, each holding labarum and akakia between them. DOC – (but cf. p. 184, 2); cf. PCPC 287; cf. LPC p. 140, 3; SB 2528; S. Bendall, “Another new silver basilikon of John V and VI, 1347-1352,” NumCirc CVI/3 (April 1998), 2. EF. Very rare.

Most examples of this type have John VI on the left (see CNG 63, lot 1740 for a particularly clear example), but on the current coin the “KNTK” clearly names the right hand figure as John VI. The text of LPC describes John VI as being on the right, but the accompanying line drawing places him on the left.

Bendall placed this issue at a provincial mint. We are following DOC in assigning this and all of the above basilika of John V and VI to Constantinople, but readily admit that further study could shed new mint attributions on certain issues.