Alexius and John Asen, despotes. Circa 1356. Æ Trachy (17.5mm, 1.92 g, 12h). Mint on the Thracian coast. Good Fine.

Electronic Auction 616
Lot: 910.
Closing Date: Sep 2 2026 10:00 ET

Byzantine, Bronze

Estimate: $ 300

BID NOW

Alexius and John Asen, despotes. Circa 1356. Æ Trachy (17.5mm, 1.92 g, 12h). Mint on the Thracian coast. The Theotokos facing, orans; stars atop towers flanking / Crowned facing figures of Alexius and John, both wearing loros and holding scepter; three stars between, cloud above. DOC –; S. Bendall, “A Further Note on the ‘Dioikitirion Square’ Trachy” in NK 23 (2004), pp. 97-9, figs. 1-6; S. Bendall, “The Diokitirion Square Trakion Reconsidered” in NK 21 (2002), pp. 107–10; S. Bendall, “An Enigmatic Fourteenth Century Coin” in NumCirc CIV.2 (March 1996), p. 39, 4-6; SB –. Dark brown and earthen patina. Good Fine. Very rare.

According to Bendall, the Asen brothers, who were members of the Bulgarian royal house, held the coastal area of Thrace as despotes when the royal domain fragmented after the death of Stephan Uros IV Dusan. These trachys that Bendall attributed to them remain very rare and are furthermore very infrequently encountered.

Closing Date and Time: 2 September 2026 at 15:03:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.