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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Medieval & Modern Coins| ▸ |Crusaders||View Options:  |  |  |   
Coins of the Crusaders

The crusades were military expeditions undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims. The origin of the word may be traced to the cross made of cloth and worn as a badge on the outer garment of those who took part in these enterprises. The Crusader states were a number of mostly 12th and 13th century feudal states created by Western European crusaders in Sicily, Greece, Asia Minor, and the Holy Land, and during the Northern Crusades in the eastern Baltic area. Politics were complicated, including a Christian alliance with the Islamic Sultanate of Rûm during the Fifth Crusade. The Crusaders ravaged the countries they marched through, killed 8,000 Jews in the Rhineland in the first of Europe's pogroms, devastated the Mediterranean ports, fought amongst themselves as much as the "Infidel" and fleeced their subjects to fill their coffers. Murder and massacre in the service of the Gospel was commonplace. Seventy thousand civilians were butchered in the sack of Jerusalem. The end came in 1291 with the fall of Acre, the last Christian stronghold in the Holy Land. Near East 1135

Tre Monete Indite Dei Cavalieri Di San Giovanni A Rodi

|Crusaders|, |Tre| |Monete| |Indite| |Dei| |Cavalieri| |Di| |San| |Giovanni| |A| |Rodi|
Three new coins of the Knights of St. John in Rhodes. Excerpt from Ticino journals of numismatics and classical antiquities, Lugano, 1983 - Vol XII.BL16808. Tre Monete Indite Dei Cavalieri Di San Giovanni A Rodi, Francesco Mannucci, reprinted 1983, in Italian, 6 pages; $.40 (€.38)
 


Crusaders, Principality of Tripoli, Bohemond V, 1233 - 1251 A.D.

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |Principality| |of| |Tripoli,| |Bohemond| |V,| |1233| |-| |1251| |A.D.||pougeoise|
Bohemond V was ruler of the Principality of Antioch and Count of Tripoli from 1233 to his death. Like his father before him, Bohemond had a notorious dislike for the Knights Hospitaller and the neighboring Kingdom of Armenia, preferring an alliance with the Knights Templar. Peace with Armenia was assured only shortly before his death, with the mediation of Louis IX of France.CR114486. Bronze pougeoise, Malloy CCS 21, Metcalf Crusades 555, F, uneven strike with weak areas, obv. die break, earthen encrustations, weight 0.555 g, maximum diameter 14.8 mm, die axis 135o, Tripoli mint, 1233 - 1251 A.D.; obverse + CIVITAS, cross pomme, pellet in circle at center and pellet in each quarter; reverse TRIPOLIS, Genoese gateway or tower with double door and three crenelations; scarce; $60.00 (€56.40)
 


France Feudal, Anonymous Bishops of Valence, 12th - 13th Century

|France|, |France| |Feudal,| |Anonymous| |Bishops| |of| |Valence,| |12th| |-| |13th| |Century||denier|
In 1275 the bishoprics of Valence and Die were merged. The obverse legend refers to St. Apollinaris, the patron saint of the cathedral in Valence.

Valence deniers are found in significant quantities in hoards from the Crusader possessions in the east. Some of these coins may be crusader imitations of the French issue.ME114481. Silver denier, Poey 4690; Roberts 4782; Boudeau 1021; Metcalf Crusades 19-40, F, toned, weight 0.922 g, maximum diameter 17.4 mm, die axis 90o, Valence mint, 12th - 13th century; obverse + S APOLLINARS, cross pommée, annulet in 4th quarter; reverse + VRBS VALENTIAI, angel facing with spread wings, resembling an eagle; $70.00 (€65.80)
 


Crusaders, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Levon V, 1374 - 1375

|Armenian| |Cilicia|, |Crusaders,| |Armenian| |Kingdom| |of| |Cilicia,| |Levon| |V,| |1374| |-| |1375||obol|
Levon V was the last Latin king of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. After ruling for only about a year, in 1375 he was overthrown and captured by the Mamluk Sultan. Levon was held hostage in Egypt with his wife and daughter for five years until ransomed by the King of Castile. The King of Castile named Levon Lord of Madrid and granted him for life the towns of Madrid, Andújar, Guadalajara and Villareal (today Ciudad Real) and a yearly gift of 150,000 maravedis. Levon went to Paris in 1384, and received the Saint-Ouen castle and a sizable pension from King Charles VI of France. He attempted to reconcile the French and the English (at the time fighting the Hundred Years' War) in order to set up a new crusade and obtain help to recover his lands, but was unsuccessful. Levon V never recovered his throne, and died in Paris on November 29, 1393.CR114482. Billon obol, Nercessian ACV 503, Bedoukian CCA -, aVF, toned, rev. off center, weight 0.540 g, maximum diameter 14.3 mm, Sis mint, 1374 - 1375; obverse Armenian legend: Levon King, crowned bust facing; reverse Armenian legend: Levon King, cross pattée, pellet in each quarter; ex Bertolami Fine Art auction E259 (20 May 2023), lot 855; rare; $110.00 (€103.40)
 


Crusaders, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Hetoum II, 1289 - 1293, 1295 - 1296, and 1301 - 1305 A.D.

|Armenian| |Cilicia|, |Crusaders,| |Armenian| |Kingdom| |of| |Cilicia,| |Hetoum| |II,| |1289| |-| |1293,| |1295| |-| |1296,| |and| |1301| |-| |1305| |A.D.||denier|
Hetoum II reigned three times. After a few difficult years of losses to the Mamluks, he ended his first reign by abdicating in favor of his brother Thoros III and entering a monastery. Two years later Thoros III asked Hetoum to take the throne again. While Hetoum was in Constantinople, his brother Smpad, ended his second reign by usurping the throne, and blinding and imprisoning him upon his return. Constantine, another brother, who had aided Smpad, then usurped the throne and freed Hetoum. Regaining his sight, Hetoum took the throne a third time. After more disastrous losses to the Mamluks, Hetoum abdicated his third reign, passing the crown to Thoros' teenage son, Leo III, and retiring to a monastery.CR113086. Billon denier, cf. Bedoukian CCA 1575 - 1580, Nercessian ACV 394, VF, die crack on obv., scratches, dark encrustations, edge chip, weight 0.528 g, maximum diameter 14.9 mm, die axis 0o, obverse Armenian inscription: + Hetoum King, crowned facing bust; reverse Armenian inscription: + of all the Armenians, cross potent, nothing in angles; $180.00 (€169.20)
 


Crusaders, Frankish Greece, Duchy of Athens, Guy II de La Roche, 1287 - 1308

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |Frankish| |Greece,| |Duchy| |of| |Athens,| |Guy| |II| |de| |La| |Roche,| |1287| |-| |1308||denier|
Guy II de la Roche was the Duke of Athens from 1287, the last duke of his family. He succeeded as a minor on the death of his father, William I, at a time when the duchy of Athens had exceeded the Principality of Achaea in wealth, power, and importance. Guy was originally under the tutorship and regency of his mother, Helena Angelina Komnene, who was forced to make submission to Isabella of Villehardouin. In 1299, Guy was engaged to Matilda, daughter of Isabella and and her husband, Florent of Hainaut. Charles objected, as his permission had not been sought, but Pope Boniface VIII intervened on the young couple's behalf. In 1307, Guy was made bailli of Achaea by its new prince, Philip I of Taranto. He governed well, but for barely a year. He died, 5 October 1308, at the age of twenty-eight, but was respected and renowned for his chivalry and manners.Frankokratia_Map
CR113826. Billon denier, Metcalf Crusades pl. 42, 1078 (also no stops); Malloy CCS p. 388, 96, Choice VF, well centered, dark tone, clashed dies, encrustations, edge splits, weight 0.887 g, maximum diameter 20.5 mm, die axis 315o, Thebes mint, majority, 1294 - 1308; obverse +GVI DVX ATENES (no stops), cross pattée within inner border; reverse ThEBAHI CIVIS (no stops), castle tournois, surmounted by cross dividing legend, pierced mullet (heraldic six-pointed star-shaped spur rowel) below; ex Fritz Rudolf Künker auction 390 (24 Jun 2023), lot 3432 (part of); $140.00 (€131.60)
 


Crusaders, Principality of Antioch, Raymond of Poitiers 1136 - 1149 A.D.

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |Principality| |of| |Antioch,| |Raymond| |of| |Poitiers| |1136| |-| |1149| |A.D.||AE| |16|
Raymond of Poitiers was Prince of Antioch from 1136 to 1149. He was the younger son of William IX, Duke of Aquitaine and his wife Philippa, Countess of Toulouse, born in the very year that his father the Duke began his infamous liaison with Dangereuse de Chatelherault.CR113210. Bronze AE 16, Malloy CCS p. 203, 17; Metcalf pl. 18, 462; Schlumberger pl. 2, 19, VF, dark patina, tight flan as usual, weight 0.715 g, maximum diameter 16.2 mm, die axis 90o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, 1136 - 1149 A.D.; obverse R A M in ornamental style within a triangular pattern; reverse AN/TIOC/HIE in three lines; very rare; $300.00 (€282.00)
 


Crusaders, County of Edessa, Joscelin I de Courtenay, 1119 - 1131

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |County| |of| |Edessa,| |Joscelin| |I| |de| |Courtenay,| |1119| |-| |1131||follis|
R. Pesant in "Three Additional Folles Presumably of Joscelyn of Edessa" in NumCirc 100/9 (Nov 1992), pp. 302 - 303, attributed very similar coins to Joscelin I de Courtenay, count of Edessa. He read the inscription in the angles of the cross as corrupt Latin naming Joscelyn. The legend and attribution remain less than certain.BZ113807. Bronze follis, see Pesant NumCirc 1992 p. 302 - 303 (for similar types); Metcalf Crusades -; Malloy CCS -; Wäckerlin -, Porteous -, aVF, crude, irregularly shaped flan, weight 5.211 g, maximum diameter 21.9 mm, die axis 180o, Mesopotamia, Edessa (Urfa, Sanliurfa, Turkey) mint, c. 1119 - 1131; obverse nimbate and crowned bust of a Saint facing, gospels in his right hand, cross in his left hand; reverse large cross with uncertain legend in angles; ex Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (8-13 Jul 2023), lot 5993; ex European collection formed before 2005; extremely rare; $1350.00 (€1269.00)
 


Crusaders, County of Edessa, Joscelin I de Courtenay, 1119 - 1131

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |County| |of| |Edessa,| |Joscelin| |I| |de| |Courtenay,| |1119| |-| |1131||follis|
R. Pesant in "Three Additional Folles Presumably of Joscelyn of Edessa" in NumCirc 100/9 (Nov 1992), pp. 302 - 303, attributed very similar coins to Joscelin I de Courtenay, count of Edessa. He read the inscription in the angles of the cross as corrupt Latin naming Joscelyn. The legend and attribution remain less than certain.BZ113788. Bronze follis, see Pesant NumCirc 1992 p. 302 - 303 (for similar types); Metcalf Crusades -; Malloy CCS -; Wäckerlin -, Porteous -, VF, crude, harshly cleaned, irregularly shaped flan, edge crack, weight 4.131 g, maximum diameter 21.0 mm, die axis 90o, Mesopotamia, Edessa (Urfa, Sanliurfa, Turkey) mint, c. 1119 - 1131; obverse nimbate and crowned bust of a Saint facing, gospels in his right hand, cross in his left hand; reverse large cross with uncertain legend in angles; ex Leu Numismatik web auction 26 (8-13 Jul 2023), lot 5989; ex European collection formed before 2005; extremely rare; $800.00 (€752.00)
 


Crusaders, Principality of Achaea, William II of Villehardouin, 1245 - 1278

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |Principality| |of| |Achaea,| |William| |II| |of| |Villehardouin,| |1245| |-| |1278||denier|
William of Villehardouin became Prince of Achaea when his brother Geoffrey II died. He conquered the remaining territory of the Peloponnese and built the fortress of Mistra near Sparta. In 1249 he accompanied Louis IX of France on the Seventh Crusade, joining him in Cyprus with 400 knights and 28 ships. Louis gave him a license to mint coins in the style of royal French money. William defeated Venice in the War of the Euboeote Succession and defeated the Duke of Athens in 1258, reaffirming his power over the duchy. In 1259 he formed an alliance with the Byzantine Despotate of Epirus against Nicaea. He led the Achaean forces against the Nicaeans, but the Epirote army deserted and William was defeated. He fled and hid under a haystack, but was captured. He remained captive until 1262 and permanently lost all his power.CR112805. Bronze denier, Malloy CCS p. 356, 3; Metcalf Crusades pl. 38, 877; Schlumberger p. 313 & pl. 12, 7; Tzamalis F56, aVF, centered, tight flan, center weak, edge ragged with splits, weight 0.702 g, maximum diameter 16.9 mm, Corinth mint, 1245 - 1278; obverse G•Π•AC-CA-IE•, long cross pattée, extending beyond inner circular border and dividing legend, right arm shorter making space for •; reverse COR/INT/Vm (squared legend, clockwise from 2:00, N appears as H, m appears as ligate on), fortified gateway with central tower surmounted by cross pattée flanked by pellets; $180.00 (€169.20)
 



  






REFERENCES

Bedoukian, P. Coinage of the Artaxiads of Armenia. RNS Special Publication 10. (London, 1978).
Bedoukian, P. Coinage of Cilician Armenia. ANSNNM 147. (1962).
Bellinger, A. Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection, Alexius I to Michael VIII, 1081-1261. (Washington D.C., 1966).
Biaggi, E. Monete e Zecche medievali Italiane dal Sec. VIII al Sec. XV. (Torino, 1992).
Boudeau, E. Monnaies Françaises Provinciales. (Maastricht, 1970).
Boutin, S. Monnaies des Empires de Byzance - Collection of N.K. Volumes 1-2. (Maastricht, 1983).
Grierson, P. & L. Travaini. Medieval European Coinage, Vol. 14: Italy III: South Italy, Sicily, Sardinia. (Cambridge, 1998).
Hendy, M. Coinage and Money in the Byzantine Empire 1081-1261. (Washington D.C., 1969).
Malloy, A., I. Preston, & A. Seltman. Coins of the Crusader States, 2nd Edition. (New York, 2004).
Metcalf, D. Coinage of the Crusaders and the Latin East in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford. (London, 1995).
Metcalf, D. "Coinage of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem in the name of Baudouin" in NC 1978.
Metcalf, D. "Billon Coinage of the Crusading Principality of Antioch" in NC 1969. (London, 1969).
Münzen & Medaillen. Coins of the Crusader States and Their Successors, The Collection of Erich Wäckerlin, auction 47, 23 May 2019.
Nercessian, Y. Armenian Coins and Their Values. Armenian Numismatic Society, Special Publication 8. (Los Angeles, 1995).
Pesant, R. "Folles of Doubtful Attribution to Joscelyn de Courtenay, Count of Edessa" in NumCirc 93/6 (Jul-Aug 1985), pp. 188 - 189.
Pesant, R. "Three Additional Folles Presumably of Joscelyn of Edessa" in NumCirc 100/9 (Nov 1992), pp. 302 - 303.
Pesant, R. "Further comments on the presumed coinage of Joscelyn of Edessa" in NumCirc 102/9 (Oct 1994), pp. 355 - 356.
Phillips, M. "The 'Roupen' Hoard of Helmet Pennies of Antioch" in NC 2005.
Porteous, J. "Crusader Coinage with Greek or Latin Inscriptions" in A History of the Crusades, vol. IV. (Madison, 1989).
Sabine, C. "The billon and copper coinage of the crusader country of Tripoli, c. 1102-1268" in NC 1980, pp. 71 - 112, pls. 9 - 14.
Sear, D. Byzantine Coins and Their Values. (London, 1987).
Schlumberger, G. Numismatique de l'Orient latin. (1878; Supplement 1882; reprinted: Graz, 1954).
Sommer, A. Die Münzen des Byzantinischen Reiches 491-1453. Mit einem Anhang: Die Münzen des Kaiserreichs von Trapezunt. (Regenstauf, 2010).
Sotheby's. The John J. Slocum Collection of Coins of the Crusades, catalog of public auction, London, 6 Mar 1997.
Travaini, L. "Hohenstaufen and Angevin denari of Sicily and Southern Italy: their mint attributions" in NC 1993.
Tzamalis, A. "Addition to the tornesia of the 1st group of Guillaume de Villehardouin" in NK 11 (1992).
Tzamalis, A. "The first period of the Frankish tornesio. New evidence from an old hoard" in NK 9-10 (1990-1991).

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