ARMENIA 1198-1219 AD AR TRAM Mint
080-00528
The **Silver Tram of Levon I** is a stunning artifact from the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, a pivotal Christian stronghold during the era of the Crusades. Levon I, also known as Levon the Magnificent, was the first king of Cilician Armenia, and his coinage reflects a sophisticated blend of Western European Crusader influence and traditional Armenian heritage. Struck between AD 1198 and 1219, this silver coin served as a primary currency for trade between the Levant and the merchant republics of the Mediterranean.
### Regal Iconography
The obverse of the coin features a majestic depiction of **King Levon seated on a throne**. He is shown facing forward, holding a globus cruciger (a cross-topped orb) and a fleur-de-lis, symbols of his divinely sanctioned authority and his close ties to the French and Germanic Crusader courts. His feet often rest on two small lions, emphasizing his power and the "Lion" epithet associated with his dynasty.
The reverse is equally striking, featuring a **long cross flanked by two lions rampant**. These lions, facing away from the cross but looking back toward it, were the heraldic symbol of the Rubenid dynasty. The inscriptions on both sides are rendered in the distinct and beautiful Armenian alphabet, identifying Levon as "King of all the Armenians by the grace of God."
### Grade and Condition
Graded **Extremely Fine (XF)** by NGC, this specimen has survived in a state of remarkable preservation. In this grade, the intricate details of the king’s crown, the folds of his royal robes, and the powerful musculature of the heraldic lions remain sharp and well-defined. While the coin may show the slightest hint of wear on the highest points of the design, it retains the brilliant silver luster and "flash" that would have made it a prized piece of currency in the 13th century.
For a collector, this silver Tram is more than just a coin; it is a piece of "Crusader" history that captures the spirit of a kingdom that stood as a bridge between the East and the West during a time of epic conflict and cultural exchange.The **Silver Tram of Levon I** is a stunning artifact from the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, a pivotal Christian stronghold during the era of the Crusades. Levon I, also known as Levon the Magnificent, was the first king of Cilician Armenia, and his coinage reflects a sophisticated blend of Western European Crusader influence and traditional Armenian heritage. Struck between AD 1198 and 1219, this silver coin served as a primary currency for trade between the Levant and the merchant republics of the Mediterranean.
### Regal Iconography
The obverse of the coin features a majestic depiction of **King Levon seated on a throne**. He is shown facing forward, holding a globus cruciger (a cross-topped orb) and a fleur-de-lis, symbols of his divinely sanctioned authority and his close ties to the French and Germanic Crusader courts. His feet often rest on two small lions, emphasizing his power and the "Lion" epithet associated with his dynasty.
The reverse is equally striking, featuring a **long cross flanked by two lions rampant**. These lions, facing away from the cross but looking back toward it, were the heraldic symbol of the Rubenid dynasty. The inscriptions on both sides are rendered in the distinct and beautiful Armenian alphabet, identifying Levon as "King of all the Armenians by the grace of God."
### Grade and Condition
Graded **Extremely Fine (XF)** by NGC, this specimen has survived in a state of remarkable preservation. In this grade, the intricate details of the king’s crown, the folds of his royal robes, and the powerful musculature of the heraldic lions remain sharp and well-defined. While the coin may show the slightest hint of wear on the highest points of the design, it retains the brilliant silver luster and "flash" that would have made it a prized piece of currency in the 13th century.
For a collector, this silver Tram is more than just a coin; it is a piece of "Crusader" history that captures the spirit of a kingdom that stood as a bridge between the East and the West during a time of epic conflict and cultural exchange.
### Regal Iconography
The obverse of the coin features a majestic depiction of **King Levon seated on a throne**. He is shown facing forward, holding a globus cruciger (a cross-topped orb) and a fleur-de-lis, symbols of his divinely sanctioned authority and his close ties to the French and Germanic Crusader courts. His feet often rest on two small lions, emphasizing his power and the "Lion" epithet associated with his dynasty.
The reverse is equally striking, featuring a **long cross flanked by two lions rampant**. These lions, facing away from the cross but looking back toward it, were the heraldic symbol of the Rubenid dynasty. The inscriptions on both sides are rendered in the distinct and beautiful Armenian alphabet, identifying Levon as "King of all the Armenians by the grace of God."
### Grade and Condition
Graded **Extremely Fine (XF)** by NGC, this specimen has survived in a state of remarkable preservation. In this grade, the intricate details of the king’s crown, the folds of his royal robes, and the powerful musculature of the heraldic lions remain sharp and well-defined. While the coin may show the slightest hint of wear on the highest points of the design, it retains the brilliant silver luster and "flash" that would have made it a prized piece of currency in the 13th century.
For a collector, this silver Tram is more than just a coin; it is a piece of "Crusader" history that captures the spirit of a kingdom that stood as a bridge between the East and the West during a time of epic conflict and cultural exchange.The **Silver Tram of Levon I** is a stunning artifact from the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, a pivotal Christian stronghold during the era of the Crusades. Levon I, also known as Levon the Magnificent, was the first king of Cilician Armenia, and his coinage reflects a sophisticated blend of Western European Crusader influence and traditional Armenian heritage. Struck between AD 1198 and 1219, this silver coin served as a primary currency for trade between the Levant and the merchant republics of the Mediterranean.
### Regal Iconography
The obverse of the coin features a majestic depiction of **King Levon seated on a throne**. He is shown facing forward, holding a globus cruciger (a cross-topped orb) and a fleur-de-lis, symbols of his divinely sanctioned authority and his close ties to the French and Germanic Crusader courts. His feet often rest on two small lions, emphasizing his power and the "Lion" epithet associated with his dynasty.
The reverse is equally striking, featuring a **long cross flanked by two lions rampant**. These lions, facing away from the cross but looking back toward it, were the heraldic symbol of the Rubenid dynasty. The inscriptions on both sides are rendered in the distinct and beautiful Armenian alphabet, identifying Levon as "King of all the Armenians by the grace of God."
### Grade and Condition
Graded **Extremely Fine (XF)** by NGC, this specimen has survived in a state of remarkable preservation. In this grade, the intricate details of the king’s crown, the folds of his royal robes, and the powerful musculature of the heraldic lions remain sharp and well-defined. While the coin may show the slightest hint of wear on the highest points of the design, it retains the brilliant silver luster and "flash" that would have made it a prized piece of currency in the 13th century.
For a collector, this silver Tram is more than just a coin; it is a piece of "Crusader" history that captures the spirit of a kingdom that stood as a bridge between the East and the West during a time of epic conflict and cultural exchange.
| Additional Information | |
|---|---|
| COUNTRY | ARMENIA |
| DENOMINATION | AR TRAM |
| EdgeItemKey | 001-080-00528 |
| GRADE | XF |
| Inventory Type | Memo |
| stone info | [] |
| Vendor Style Code | Levon I AD1198-1219 |
| YEAR | 1198-1219 AD |
