Exhibit 24.1

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned hereby constitutes,
designates and appoints Christopher A. Milner, Herman H. Howerton, Daniel
Walcher, Harris Oliner, David Maryles, Robert Weiss, Jeremy Litt and Richard M.
Shea of Anthracite Capital, Inc. (the "Company"), and Dwight S. Yoo and
Rhonda-Jo Pearlman of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as such person's
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of
substitution and resubstitution and full power to act alone and without the
other, for the undersigned and in the undersigned's name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and file any and all
statements on Form ID (including, but not limited to, obtaining the Central
Index Key ("CIK") and the CIK confirmation code ("CCC") from the Securities and
Exchange Commission), Form 3, Form 4 and Form 5 and any successor forms adopted
by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as may be required by the Securities
Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act
of 1940 and the rules thereunder, and requisite documents in connection with
such statements, respecting the Company.

This power of attorney supersedes any previous versions of same, and shall be
valid from the date hereof until revoked by the undersigned, and shall be
automatically revoked with respect to any attorney in the event that such
attorney is no longer affiliated with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
or the Company or its affiliates (as the case may be).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this instrument as of the 5th
day of May 2008.

By: /s/ Walter E. Gregg Jr.
Walter E. Gregg Jr.