Lot 100
John VIII Palaeologus, 1425-1448. Stavraton (Silver, 26 mm, 8.36 g, 5 h), Constantinople. IC XC Nimbate bust of Christ Pantokrator facing, raising right hand in benediction and holding Gospels in left; lis in both fields flanking bust. Rev. +IωANHC ΔΕCΠΟΤΙC ΠΑΛEΟΛΟΓΟC / +ΘΥ ΧΑΡΙΤΙ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡ Nimbate and crowned facing bust of John VIII; pellets in left and right fields. DOC -. LPC p. 172, 1. PCPC 348, sigla 4. SB 2563-4. Unusually well-struck for this issue. About extremely fine.
John VIII was the last Byzantine emperor to visit Rome, which he did on two occasions, in 1423 and again in 1439. His second visit was an attempt to gain support from the West to defend against the Ottomans, who were besieging the city of Constantinople. He met with Pope Eugenius IV and agreed to the union of the Greek and Roman Churches, but ultimately dissent at home caused this union to fail, and significant western support never materialized. Nonetheless, he managed to keep the Ottomans at bay, and died peacefully from natural causes in 1448. His brother, Constantine XI, whom John had named as his heir since he had no offspring, become the last Byzantine emperor before it's fall to the Ottomans in 1453.
