Bust of Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaiologos facing right, with corkscrew curls, pointed beard, wearing high-necked shirt, open jacket, and extravagant domed hat.
Obverse lettering
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ἸΩÁΝΝΗC • BACIAEV̀C • KAÌ • ἈVTOKPÁTΩP • ῬΩMÁIΩN • Ὁ •
ΠAAΑIOAÓΓΟC (Translation: John, emperor and autocrat of the Romans, the Palaeologus.)
Obverse script
Greek
Reverse description
Byzantine Emperor John VIII Palaiologos on horseback, facing right, wearing domed hat, raising right hand, and holding bow and quiver of arrows to his right hip. To the left, mounted squire viewed from the rear. Both horses with elaborate straps over their hindquarters. Pedestalled wayside cross to the right. Rocky landscape in the background.
Reverse lettering
• OPVS • PISANI • PICTO
RIS •
ἜPΓON • TÔV • ΠICÁNOV • ZΩΓPÁΦOV (Translation: Work of Pisani, the painter.)