Triton XVIII, Lot: 1354. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Andronicus II Palaeologus, with Michael IX. 1282-1328. AR Basilikon (19mm, 1.74 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Christ Pantokrator enthroned facing; IC–XC across upper field / A/N/Δ/PON/[I]KO/[C ΔЄ]CΠ to left, X/ ΔЄ/C/ΠO/T–C/ O Π/A to right, Andronicus and Michael standing facing, each raising hand to chest and holding long cross between them. P. Protonotarios, “The silver coinage of the joint reign of Andronicus II and Michael IX (1295-1320),” NumCirc LXXX/12 (December 1972), Type II var. (rev. legend); DOC –; LPC p. 66, 5 var. (same); PCPC 133 = SB 2401 var. (cross of pellets to either side of Christ, rev. legend). Near EF, toned. Rare.

From the Iconodule Collection.

As noted above, Bendall’s specimen (PCPC 133, also the plate coin for SB) has a cross of pellets to either side of Christ. He notes (p. 35) that: “[t]he sigla ·:· ·:· over the throne of the obverse of this specimen had been erased from the die of the previously published coin [i.e., by Protonotarios].” Die scratches where the crosses would have been could point to their erasure on the obverse die used to strike the current coin as well.