Genuine Byzantine Gold Coin Silver Pendant depicting Jesus, Andronikos and Michael IX

In this beautiful sterling silver pendant is set an authentic Byzantine gold coin ( 1295-1320 ), depicting Andronicus II and Michael IX kneeling either side of Christ crowning both. On the other side of the pendant there is the bust of the Virgin ("orans"), within Constantinople walls. Andronikos II Palaiologos (25 March 1259 – 13 February 1332), usually Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, reigned as Byzantine Emperor from 1282 to 1328. Andronikos' reign was marked by the beginning of the decline of the Byzantine Empire. During his reign, the Turks conquered most of the Western Anatolian territories of the Empire and, during the last years of his reign, he also had to fight his grandson Andronikos in the First Palaiologan Civil War. The civil war ended in Andronikos II's forced abdication in 1328 after which he retired to a monastery, where he spent the last four years of his life. Michael IX Palaiologos (17 April 1277 — 12 October 1320), was a Byzantine co-Emperor from 1294 until his death. A man of impeccable morals and a good helper to his father, he was also known as a brave and energetic soldier, willing to make personal sacrifices to pay or encourage his troops; the Catalan military chronicler Ramon Muntaner said about him: “Emperor Michael was one of the bravest knights in the world". Despite his military prestige, he suffered several defeats, which could be difficult to establish the real reason for this: either his inability as a commander, the deplorable state of the Byzantine army or just simply bad luck.