Cilician Armenia (Crusader and Christian states in the Eastern Mediterranean)

[expat]

This (arrived today) was from a friend who is currently traveling Europe. It is not part of my collecting focuses even though it is a beautiful coin.

I think I have attributed it correctly but any additional insights to this type would be gratefully received.

Cilician Armenia. Royal. King Hetoum I, with Queen Zabel AD 1226-1270.
1Tram AR
Obverse
Crowned lion standing right with a long cross in its paw.
Lettering: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ
Translation: Hetoum king of the Armenians
Reverse
Queen Zabel and king Hetoum holding a long cross.
Lettering: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹ ԻԻՆՆ ԱՅ Ե
Translation: By the will of God

21 mm, 2,97 g
Issuer    Cilician Armenia (Crusader and Christian states in the Eastern Mediterranean)  

King    Hethum I (Հեթում Ա) (1226-1270)

Type    Standard circulation coin
Years    1226-1270
Value    1 Tram
Currency    Tram (1080-1301)
Composition    Silver
Weight    3.2 g
Diameter    21 mm
Shape    Round (irregular)
Technique    Hammered

Demonetized    Yes
Number    N#
45836

[JeandAcre]

Sure enough, @expat, you nailed it!  A solid example, too; you get extra points for detail on all three faces.  ...The strikes on these aren't awful, but run to being less than inspired.

I don't have anything in print for these.  But here's mine, an eventual (......) upgrade to one that's orders of magnitude homelier than yours. 

(Instant edit:) It's cool how Hetoum's reign is an exact match, year to year, to Louis IX's.  --Rats, there's no mention in my abrifged translation of Joinville's 'Chronicle' (really a memoir), but I'm sure if you went deeper, you'd find some connection or other.

Edited May 4, 2024 by JeandAcre

[Parthicus]

Nice coins @expat and @JeandAcre, my only coin of Cilician Armenia is this AR of Gosdantin III (1344- 1362):

 

[JeandAcre]

@Parthicus, you get points for one as late as that!  Surely they're that much scarcer, and the late phase has its own distinctive drama.

[Ursus]

I'm late to the party – still, let me add these three. I'm particularly fond of the large bronze tankstruck for Hetoum I:

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Levon I, AE tram, 1198-1219 AD, Sis mint. Obv:  “+ Levon, King of the Armenians;” king seated facing on lion throne, holding lily sceptre and orb. “+ By the Will of God;” cross flanked by two lions rampant regardant. 22mm, 2.95g. Nercessian 283.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Hetoum I, AE tank, 1226–1269 AD, Sis mint. Obv: Armenian legend: “+ Hetoum, King of the Armenians;” king seated facing on lion throne, holding lily sceptre and orb. Rev: Armenian legend: “+ struck in the city of Sis;” cross with strokes in quadrants. 29mm, 8.08g. Ref: Bedoukian 1327 or similar.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Gosdantin III or IV, AR Takvorin, 1344–1373 AD, Sis or Tarsus mint. Reverse: Armenian legend, king riding r., holding lily sceptre. Rev: Armenian legend, lion with cross walking r. 23mm, 1.97g. Ref: Nercessian 471–478; 491–496.

 

[mcwyler]

CILICIAN ARMENIA.Levon I (1198-1219) Sis.Tank. (7.41g, 30mm) Crowned lion’s head facing slightly to right. / Patriarchal cross flanked by stars.

 

CILICIAN ARMENIA.Hetoum I with Zabel (1226-1270) Sis.Tram. (2.94g, 19mm). Zabel and Hetoum standing facing, holding long cross with two banners between; pellet-in-annulet on shaft. / Crowned lion right; long double cross behind; L to right.