Description

JOHN VIII PALEOLOGUS, 1423-1448. Mint of Constantinopolis
Silver-1/4 Hyperpyron (half stavraton).  Bust of Christ facing.
Rev:  Bust of emperor facing in circular legend.

Sear 2565. LPC p. 172, 2. DOC 1751ff. var. 3.22 g.

Very Fine.

John VIII was the penultimate Emperor of Costantinople. The end came in the Spring of 1453.
The Great Sultan Muhammed II began his onslaught which raged for seven weeks using recently
invented cannons. John’s son Constantine XI (the last Emperor, whose coins are exceedingly rare)
died defending his Empire from the Ottoman Turks. The end of Rome’s Eastern Empire.