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Crusaders, Antioch, Late Anonymous, 1250 - 1268
 | From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer for 40 years and co-author of "Coins of the Crusader States." See Malloy Crusaders p. 197 for a discussion of the late anonymous series.
Ex John J. Slocum Collection. Mr. Slocum was in the American diplomatic service in the Holy Land and collected rare and unique coins in the early 1960's.
Antioch existed for over 1500 years, it was one of the three most important cities in the ancient world, and in the 1st century had a population of 500,000 (not counting women and slaves). On 18 May 1268, Antioch surrendered to Baibars on the condition that the lives of the citizens would be spared. As soon as his troops were within the gates, Baibars ordered the gates shut and brutally massacred everyone in the city. Lamenting that Antioch's ruler had not been present either for the siege or the ransacking and murder, Baibars wrote a detailed letter describing exactly what had been done, concluding with the phrase, "Had you been there, you would have wished you had never been born."
Historically of great importance, this coin was minted in the last throngs of the city of Antioch as it was dying.
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SH31532. Bronze AE 15, Malloy Crusaders 132 var; Seltman, NC 1966, p. 61, 2 var, F, weight 0.316g, maximum diameter 15.4mm, obverse A/N-T/I counterclockwise in the angles of a long cross pattée; reverse blundered ANTI in the angles of a long cross pattée; unpublished variety of an extremely rare type; SOLD
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