Sale: CNG 63, Lot: 1738. Estimate $2000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2003.  Sold For $1900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JOHN V. 1341-1391. AR Basilikon (1.22 gm). Constantinople mint. First issue of 1341. Facing half-length figure of John, holding labarum and globus cruciger; Christ blessing him above / St. Demetrius and Andronicus III standing facing; columnar legends. DOC V 944 (circular legends); Bendall 199.1 (columnar legends); SB 2474. Good VF. Rare. ($2000)

The reign of John V was as complicated as any in Byzantine history. John's early years were affected by the regency of his mother, the daughter of Amadeus V of Savoy, who introduced many western practices to the imperial court. Opposition led by John Cantecuzenus led to a six year civil war, which ended in the deposition of Anna and her son. Anna retired to Thessalonica, which she held as her own fief until her death in 1365. The son renewed the war in 1352, and drove Cantecuzenus into forced monastic retirement in 1354. John V's rule was disrupted yet again in 1373, 1376, and 1390, when his son and grandson, Andronicus IV and John VII, respectively, rebelled against him. The empire suffered greatly through all this, losing more of their territory in Greece and the Balkans, and seeing the first foothold of the Turks established in Europe, who forced John to accept vassel status under the Ottomans. John was even held hostage briefly during a visit to Venice, and forced to concede territory to pay debts owed to Venetian merchants.