Triton XVIII, Lot: 1356. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

temp. Andronicus I Gidon(?). Emperor of Trebizond, 1222-1235. AR Aspron Trachy (24mm, 2.77 g, 6h). The Virgin Mary standing slightly right, orans; (MHP)–ΘV across upper field, star to left / Christ Chalkites standing facing; IC–XC across upper field, X/Λ/A–K/H/(TH)/S (sic) downward to left and right. S. Bendall, “A further note on a possible early coinage of the Empire of Trebizond,” NumCirc CXIV.4 (August 2006), p. 208, fig. 1 var. (rev. legend correctly spelled); S. Bendall, “An Early Coinage of the ‘Empire’ of Trebizond?,” NumCirc CX.3 (June 2002), p. 114, fig. 1 = DOC 1 = SB 2148 var. (star on Virgin’s maphorion, rev. legend correctly spelled) . EF. Excellent strike. Rare.

From the Jonathan K. Kern Collection.

This coin belongs to a rare issue that is usually attributed to Nicaea, but Bendall's analyses (op. cit. above) of these coins reveal that they are more likely early issues of Trebizond under Andronicus Gidon. It could possibly be his second issue after a seemingly unique copper trachy with his name and the title “Comnenus”, a family from which he did not hail. The extreme rarity of that issue may indicate that such a claim was not well received.

The icon of Christ Chalkites was highly venerated. It was kept in vestibule of the imperial palace at Constantinople and may refer to hopes of a reunited Byzantine Empire.