First Issue of the Joint Reign of Andronicus II Palaeologus, with Andronicus III

CNG 111, Lot: 891. Estimate $500. Sold for $300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Andronicus II Palaeologus, with Andronicus III. 1282-1328. AV Hyperpyron (24mm, 3.33 g, 6h). Constantinople mint. Struck 1325/6. Half-length figure of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary), orans, within city walls with four towers; Γ | M flanking / Traces of ΔЄC[ПО]TIC up left, traces of AVTOK[...] down right, Christ standing facing, crowning Andonicus II and Andronicus III kneeling to either side. DOC –; Bendall, Note 3 (this coin); PCPC 185 (sigla 25); SB 2461. VF, toned, typical edge clips. Very rare.

This issue appears to be the only one in which Andronicus II is identified as despotis (= δεσπότης [“lord” or “senior emperor” (cf. Latin dominus)]), while Andronicus III is called autokrator (i.e. “junior emperor”).