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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

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 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|, |Crusaders,| |Principality| |of| |Antioch,| |Roger| |of| |Salerno,| |Regent,| |1112| |-| |1119||follis|
Roger of was regent of the Principality of Antioch from 1112 until his death on 28 June 1119. Roger became regent of Antioch when Tancred died. The prince, Bohemund II, was still a child. Like Tancred, Roger was almost constantly at war with the nearby Muslim states such as Aleppo. In 1114 an earthquake destroyed many of his fortifications but Roger took great care to rebuild them. The Artquids allied with Aleppo and invaded in 1119. Despite the urging of the Patriarch, Roger did not wait for reinforcements from Jerusalem or Tripoli. Roger and nearly all of his 700 knights and 3000 foot soldiers were killed. Artquids forces plundered the land but did not attack Antioch itself. Baldwin II of Jerusalem came north to take over the regency.
CR111252. Bronze follis, Metcalf Crusades pl. 6, 97; Malloy CCS p. 201, 9; Schlumberger pl. II, 12, gF, well centered, heavy earthen deposits, weight 3.622 g, maximum diameter 22.4 mm, die axis 30o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, Roger's 3rd issue; obverse St. George riding on horseback right, nimbate, spearing dragon below, Θ upper left, ΓWI upper right; reverse POT3EP / ΠPIΓKΠ/OC ANT/OXI in four lines; ex Morton & Eden auction 119 (6 Dec 2022), lot 333 (part of); $180.00 (€169.20)
 


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)
 


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, Principality of Antioch, Roger of Salerno, Regent, 1112 - 1119

|Crusaders|, |Crusaders,| |Principality| |of| |Antioch,| |Roger| |of| |Salerno,| |Regent,| |1112| |-| |1119||follis|
Roger of was regent of the Principality of Antioch from 1112 until his death on 28 June 1119. Roger became regent of Antioch when Tancred died. The prince, Bohemund II, was still a child. Like Tancred, Roger was almost constantly at war with the nearby Muslim states such as Aleppo. In 1114 an earthquake destroyed many of his fortifications but Roger took great care to rebuild them. The Artquids allied with Aleppo and invaded in 1119. Despite the urging of the Patriarch, Roger did not wait for reinforcements from Jerusalem or Tripoli. Roger and nearly all of his 700 knights and 3000 foot soldiers were killed. Artquids forces plundered the land but did not attack Antioch itself. Baldwin II of Jerusalem came north to take over the regency.
CR111249. Bronze follis, Metcalf Crusades pl. 5, 90; Malloy CCS p. 200, 8; Schlumberger pl. II, 11, F, earthen deposits, overstruck, rev. off center, weight 2.956 g, maximum diameter 23.2 mm, die axis 0o, Antioch (Antakya, Turkey) mint, Roger's 3rd issue; obverse the Virgin Mary, standing orans, nimbate, MH monogram - ΘV (Greek abbreviation: MHTHP ΘEOY; - Mother of God); reverse + KE BOH Θ / EITWCW / ΔOVλWP / OTSEPI (Lord, help your servant Roger); ex Morton & Eden auction 119 (6 Dec 2022), lot 333 (part of); $160.00 (€150.40)
 


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)
 


Normans, Kingdom of Sicily, Roger II, 1105 - 1154 A.D.

|Sicily|, |Normans,| |Kingdom| |of| |Sicily,| |Roger| |II,| |1105| |-| |1154| |A.D.||follaro|
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, became Duke of Apulia and Calabria in 1127, and then King of Sicily in 1130. Roger II is remembered for having united all of the Norman conquests in Italy under one strong central government. He was also the grandfather of Frederick II.
ME111224. Bronze follaro, MEC Italy III 162, Biaggi 1216 (R, double follaro), Spahr 53, MIR Sicily 19 (R2), gF, dark patina, earthen deposits, weight 5.149 g, maximum diameter 17.5 mm, die axis 210o, Messina mint, 1127 - 1130 A.D.; obverse Roger standing facing, long cross in right, globus cruciger in left, wearing crown with pendilia, R over II on left; reverse Christ seated facing on wide throne, nimbus cruciger behind head, Gospels in both hands on lap; rare; $120.00 (€112.80)
 


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

|Armenian| |Cilicia|, |Crusaders,| |Armenian| |Kingdom| |of| |Cilicia,| |Levon| |V,| |1374| |-| |1375||obol|NEW
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)
 




  



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REFERENCES

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Metcalf, D. "Coinage of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem in the name of Baudouin" in NC 1978.
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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.
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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).
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