I have a small
collection of
medieval coins from
Armenia. I just added a tram of Levon I, which prompted me to attempt to refine my attributions and understanding of my other two trams, one of of Levon I and the other of Hetoum I (I intend to reevaluate the entire
gallery over time). Yet I've
had problems classifying the Levons
per Bedoukian,
Nercessian and
Metcalf, and matching all three trams to the specific
catalog entries in
Bedoukian:
Levon I: Basic
king on throne with footstool, yet it appears to be consistent with two unrelated
catalog numbers from different groups, one described as "artistic
style" and the other merely as long
cross entirely within
circle (a description that is true for many of
Bedoukian's groups):
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-122419Levon I: Left foot turned outward, no footstool, yet the only coins described this way by
Bedoukian have the lily in the right hand and the
cross in the left:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-141082Hetoum I: This one should be easier. Group III (
lion walking with dot on long
cross), yet it is an
inscription variation not recorded and possibly omitted by accident from the
catalog:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-106143Do others find the Levons to be difficult? Terms used by
Bedoukian (and
Nercessian) with respect to Levon, such as "artistic" and "non-artistic"
style, without clear photos (the few examples in the plates are difficult to see) and without text explaining the differences, make
attribution uncertain.
Metcalf's stylistic differences are also difficult to distinguish between.
Is anyone aware of any efforts to impose order on Levon I since
Metcalf?
Do others find the number of coins that don't fit neatly into
Bedoukian, or that fit in multiple places, surprising given the number of coins described?
Stkp
My