BYZANTINE EMPIRE: John VI Cantacuzenus (1347-1353), with John V Palaeologus (1341-1391). AR basilicon (1.01 gm). Constantinople. IC - XC, Christ standing facing within mandorla, star in left field, Bin right field / PAOL-W-I-w K-NTKT, John V (on left) and John VI (bearded, on right) standing facing, each holding labarum. DOC p. 184, 2 variant. Bendall 2 variant. SBC 2528 variant. Unpublished variant, very rare. Toned. Good very fine.

PRICE: $3,750   Out On Approval

Born into an enormously wealthy Greek family, John VI Cantacuzenus spent his early career as a statesman in service of Andronicus III. When 9-year-old John V Palaeologus succeeded to the throne, Cantacuzenus attempted to take over the regency, but was opposed by the emperor's mother, Anna of Savoy. The resulting civil war drained the resources of the already weak empire, and when Cantacuzenus finally gained the upper hand after six years of fighting, he employed Turkish mercenaries who ended up becoming a fifth column further undermining the state. Crowned as co-emperor in 1347, Cantacuzenus ruled as a Greek patriot who poured most of his private wealth into state coffers and vigorously tried to strengthen the empire's hold on its European territories. But this led to conflict with the Genoese, and his efforts were dealt a crushing blow by the destruction of the Byzantine fleet in 1349. Mounting opposition to his rule led him depose John V and raise his own son Matthew as co-emperor in 1353, but Matthew proved unstable and John V was able to regain his throne with Genoese help a year later. Cantacuzenus retired to a monastery as the monk Joseph, where he spent the next 30 years writing his memoirs, a literary masterpiece which proved invaluable to later historians.