Extremely Rare

CNG 108, Lot: 824. Estimate $200. Sold for $400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BULGARIA, Second Empire. Mihail Asen II. 1246-1256. Æ Trachy (21mm, 2.18 g, 11h). Veliko Turnovo mint. Christ enthroned facing / St. Michael standing facing, holding sword and globus cruciger. Raduchev & Zhekov 1.3.2 (R10); Youroukova & Penchev –; D&D –. VF, dark green patina. Extremely rare.

From the Iconodule Collection.

Son of Ivan Asen II and Irene Komnene Doukaina, Mihail was seven or eight years old when he rose to the throne. His reign was marked by a series of conficts with the Empire of Nikaia during the reigns of John III Doukas (Vatatzes) and Theodore II Doukas-Laskaris. He reached peace the with latter, but the terms of the treaty outraged many of the leading nobleman. A plan was hatched to replace Mihail with his cousin Kaliman Asen, and Mihail was soon assassinated.