Sale: CNG 66, Lot: 1818. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 19 May 2004.  Sold For $1600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

JOHN V, Palaeologus, with JOHN VI. 1341-1391. AR Basilikon (0.66 gm). Didymoteichos mint? Struck 1347-1353. St. Demetrius, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear and shield / The emperors standing facing, holding akakia between them and labarum-headed sceptres; grate-shaped countermark (?) to right. DOC V -; Bendall "Two New Basilika of John V and VI," NumCirc June 1997, pg. 154, 2; SB -. Good VF, repaired natural hole in field. ($1000)

The mark in the reverse field does not appear to be evidence of an overstrike, and there is a corresponding flattened area on the obverse. It bears some resemblence to countermarks found on Serbian grosh of the same period (cf. S. Dimitrijevic, "Les deniers mediévaux serbes et bosniaques portant des countremarques," Review Historique [Beograd] XII-XIII, 18). The countermark indicates that this coin may have circulated in Serbia in the mid-14th century, a most unusual situation.