Armenian Coins

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia

(1198–1375)

The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, also known as LittleArmenia was formed in 1198 when Prince Leo II got the Holy Roman Emperor to turn his Armenian Principality of Cilicia into a kingdom. Armenian Cilicia became a strong ally of the crusaders and one of the major powers in the east for nearly 2 centuries. Two armenian princesses became Byzantine empresses: Philippa (daughter of Prince RubenIII and IsabellaofToron) married Theodore I Laskaris, and Rita(daughter of King Levon II and Queen Keran) married Michael IX.

Levon i

(1198–1219)

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon I (1198–1219).
AV ½ Tahekan. Sis mint. (19.5mm // 2.46g)
Obv: ԼԵԻ[Ո]Ն ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of the Armenians], crowned king's bust.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈ[Յ] [Struck in the city of Sis], patriarchal cross with two stars at the base.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon I (1198–1219).
AR Tram. Sis mint. Coronation issue.(21mm // 2.62g)
Obv: The Virgin, nimbate and orans, standing facing, receiving Levon kneeling left, head facing; above, ray emanating from curve (sphere of heaven) toward his head; pellet between.
Rev: Crowned lion advancing right, head facing; patriarchal cross above.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon I (1198–1219).
AR Double Tram. Sis mint. (28mm // 2.8g)
Obv: ԼԵՒՈՆ ԹԳՐ ԱմԵ[Ն]ԱՅՆ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of all the Armenians], king seated on throne decorated with lions.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈՒԾՈՅ [By the will of God], crowned lion walking right, facing, holding a long Patriarchal cross in its right paw; cinquefoil to the left of the lion, between the cross and the lion's tail.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon I (1198–1219).
AR Tram. Sis mint. (21mm // 2.9g)
Obv: ԼԵԻ[Ո]Ն ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon King of the Armenians], king seated on throne ornamented with lions, his feet resting on a footstool, wearing a crown and royal mantle on his shoulders; he holds a cross in his right hand and fleur-de-lis in his left hand.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈ[Յ] [By the will of God], long cross with two bars, between two lions regardant.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon I (1198–1219).
AR ½ Tram. Sis mint. (17mm // 1.29g)
Obv: ԼԵԻ[Ո]Ն ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon King of the Armenians], king seated on throne ornamented with lions, his feet resting on a footstool, wearing a crown and royal mantle on his shoulders; he holds a cross in his right hand and fleur-de-lis in his left hand.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈ[Յ] [By the will of God], long cross with two bars, between two lions regardant.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon I (1198–1219).
BI Denier. Sis mint, struck for use in Antioch. (19mm // 1g)
Obv: + LЄO DЄI GRTIA, cross pattée.
Rev: + RЄX ARMЄИIOR, crowned bust of Levon I (crown with pendilia).

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon I (1198–1219).
AE Tank. Sis mint.(29mm // 7.37g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳ[ԱՈՐ Հ]ԱՅԻՈՑ [Levon king of the Armenians], crowned bust of a lion.
Rev: [ՇԻՆ]ԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՍ Ի ՍԻՍ [Struck in the city of Sis], patriarchal cross with two stars at the base.

Hetoum i

(1226-1270)

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum I (1226–1270).
AR Tram. Sis mint.(21.7mm // 3.17g)
Obv: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹ ԻԻՆՆ ԱՅ Ե [By the will of God], queen Zabel and king Hetoum holding a long cross.
Rev: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], crowned lion standing right with a long cross in its paw.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum I (1226–1270).
AR ½ Tram. Sis mint. (16mm // 1.34g)
Obv: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹ ԻԻՆՆ ԱՅ Ե [By the will of God], queen Zabel and king Hetoum holding a long cross.
Rev: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], crowned lion standing right with a long cross in its paw.

HETOUM I and KAIKOBAD, 1229-1236
AR Bilingual Tram. (21.7mm // 3.17g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum King of Armenians], equestrian king Hetoum wearing a crown and holding a scepter capped with a fleur-de-lis; cross in the field behind king, and six pointed star in front of him.
Rev: السلطان المعظم كيقباد بن كايخسرو [The Exalted Sultan, Kayqubad son of Kaykhusraw], legend in 3 lines.

note sometimes it has the longer legend :

[The Exalted Sultan, 'Ala al-Din, Kayqubad son of Kaykhusraw] السلطان المعظم علا الدين كيقباد بن كايخسرو

HETOUM I and KAYKHUSRAW, 1236-1245
AR Bilingual Tram. (24mm // 2.75g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum King of Armenians], equestrian king Hetoum wearing a crown and holding a scepter capped with a fleur-de-lis; cross in the field behind king, and six pointed star in front of him.
Rev: السلطان العظم غياث الدنيا والدين كايخسرو بن كيقباد [The Sublime Sultan | Protector of the World and Faith | Kaykhusraw son of Kayqubad], legend in 3 lines.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum I (1226–1270).
AE Tank. Sis mint.(29 mm // 7.65 g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], King seated cross-legged on a throne adorned with lions, holding a globus crucifer and a royal mace.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ [Struck in the City of Sis], cross potent with pellets in all quadrants.

note there are a few reverse variations for this type:

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum I (1226–1270).
AE Kardez. Sis mint.(24mm // 5.35g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], Hetoum, holding lis-tipped sceptre, on horseback to right.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ [Struck in the City of Sis], cross fourchée; stars on all quarters.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum I (1226–1270).
AE Kardez. Sis mint.(24.4mm // 6.8g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], Hetoum seated facing on wide bench, holding lis-tipped sceptre and globus cruciger.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ [Struck in the City of Sis], cross pattée; pellets on all quarters.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum I (1226–1270).
AE Kardez. Sis mint.(23mm // 4.71g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], Hetoum enthroned facing, holding lis-scepter and globus-cruciger; star in field to left.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ [Struck in the City of Sis], cross pattée; crescent in first angle, pellets in the rest.

Levon ii

(1269–1289)

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon II (1269–1289).
AR Tram. Sis mint.(21mm // 2.71g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ԱՄԵՆԱՅՆ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of all the Armenians], Levon on horseback, holding patriarchal cross.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍԻ [Struck in the city of Sis], crowned lion facing right; paw raised, patriarchal cross above.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon II (1269–1289).
AR ½ Tram. Sis mint.(15mm // 1.32g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ԱՄԵՆԱՅՆ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of all the Armenians], Levon on horseback, holding patriarchal cross.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍԻ [Struck in the city of Sis], crowned lion facing left; paw raised, patriarchal cross above.

Note that there are variations for both the tram and half tram where the lion is to the left :

Levon's half trams were struck using regular tram dies, but on smaller flans.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon II (1269–1289).
AE Kardez. Sis mint. (23mm // 4.71g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], Hetoum enthroned facing, holding lis-scepter and globus-cruciger; star in field to left.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ [Struck in the City of Sis], cross pattée; crescent in first angle, pellets in the rest.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Levon II (1269–1289).
AE Kardez. Sis mint.( 22mm // 3.73g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Hetoum king of the Armenians], Hetoum enthroned facing, holding lis-scepter and globus-cruciger; star in field to left.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ [Struck in the City of Sis], cross pattée; crescent in first angle, pellets in the rest.

Hetoum ii

1st reign (1289–1293)
2nd reign (1295–1296)
3rd reign (1299–1303)

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum II (1289–1303).
Bl Denier. Sis mint. (15mm // 0.54g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ [Hetoum king], crowned bust of Hetoum II.
Rev: ԱՄԵՆԱՅՆ ՀԱՅՈՑ [of all the Armenians], cross pattée.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum II (1289–1303).
AE Kardez. Sis mint. (22mm // 3.94g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱ [Hetoum king of all the Armenians], crowned bust of Hetoum II.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔ ՍԻՍ [Struck in the city of Sis], patriarchal cross with floral decoration at base.

Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Hetoum II (1289–1303).
AE Kardez. Sis mint. (20mm // 3.08g)
Obv: ՀԵԹՈՒՄ ԹԱԳԱՒՈՐ ՀԱ [Hetoum king of all the Armenians], crowned facing bust of the king.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔ ՍԻՍ [Struck in the city of Sis], cross potent.

note there are a few reverse variations
with dots or pellets on the quadrants :

Thoros iii

(1293-1296)

Levon 11 had 5 sons: Hetoum, Thoros, Smbat, Constantine, and Oshin.

In 1289, Levon 11 died and his eldest son Hetoum succeeded him as Hetoum 11.
In 1293 Hetoum abdicated in favour of his brother Thoros, and joined a Franciscan monastery at Mamistra, maybe he didn't like the job. Despite that, Thoros recalled Hetoum from his vacation and they became co-rulers in 1295.

In 1296 both Thoros and Hetoum were imprisoned during a plot cooked up by their younger brothers Smbat and Constantine. Smbat became the next king of Armenia.

In 1298 a lot happened: Thoros was strangled in prison on the orders of Smbat, and Hetoum was blinded. Constantine then turned on Smbat and helped Hetoum escape prison and overthrow Smpad. Constantine became the next king while Hetoum recovered from being brutally blinded.

In 1299, Constantine tried to restore Smbat to the throne and Hetoum threw both of them in jail.
Hetoum started his 3rd reign.

In 1299 he called it quits again passing the crown to his nephew Levon, the son of Thoros, now Levon 111.

In 1303 both Levon 111 and Hetoum were killed by the Mongols during a banquet so Hetoum's youngest brother, Oshin, succeeded little Levon 111.

There are no known coins attributed to the short reign of Thoros 111.

Smpad

(1296–1298)

also spelled Sempad or Smbat

AR Tram. Sis mint. (21mm // 2.75g)
Obv: ՍՄԲԱՏ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՅ [Smpad king of the Armenians], king seated facing on throne decorated with lions, holding cross and fleur-de-lis
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈՒԾՈՅ [By the will of God], two lions rampant back-to-back, each with heads reverted; patriarchal cross between.

AR 1/4 Tram. Sis mint. (16mm // 0.56g)
Obv: ՍՄԲԱՏ ԹԱԳ ՈՐ [King Smpad], lion walking right, cross above.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔ ՍԻՍ [Struck in the city of Sis], fleur-de-lys.

AE Pogh. Sis mint. ( 19mm // 1.92g)
Obv: ՍՄԲԱՏ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՅ [Smpad king of the Armenians], king on horseback riding right, holding reins in left hand and mace over his shoulder in right.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔ ՍԻՍ [Struck in the city of Sis], cross with four doves in flight, one in each quadrant.

gosdantin i

(1296–1298)

AR Double Tram. Sis mint.(27mm // 5,79g)
Obv: ԿՈՍՏԱՆԴԻԱՆՈՍ ԹԱԳՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Gosdantin king of the Armenians], Gosdantin, bearded and crowned, on horseback to right, his head facing, holding the reins with his left hand and a sword in his right; below, three pellets.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈԻԹԲՆ ԱՅ Ե ԹԱԿԱԻՈՐ [by the will of God he is King], Gosdantin, bearded and crowned, standing facing in a long elaborate tunic, holding sword in his right hand and short Latin cross in his left; between his feet, two pellets; to lower left, three pellets.

AR Tram. Sis mint. (24mm // 3g)
Obv: ԿՈՍՏԱՆԴԻԱՆՈՍ ԹԱԳՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Gosdantin king of the Armenians], Gosdantin, bearded and crowned, on horseback to right, his head facing, holding the reins with his left hand and a sword in his right.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈԻԹԲՆ ԱՅ Ե ԹԱԿԱԻՈՐ [by the will of God he is King], Gosdantin, bearded and crowned, standing facing in a long elaborate tunic, holding sword in his right hand and short Latin cross in his left.

AE Kardez. Sis mint.(20.2mm // 2.8g)
Obv: ԿՈՍՏԱՆԴԻԱՆ ՈՍ ԹԱԳ ՈՐ [Gosdantin King], Gosdantin, bearded and crowned, standing facing in a long elaborate tunic, holding sword in his right hand and short Latin cross in his left.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԼ ԳԱՂԱԳՆ ՍԻՍԷ [struck in the city of Sis], cross pattée, with saltire cross at center.

Levon iii

(1303-1307)

AR Takvorin. Sis mint. (19mm // 2.26g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of the Armenians], king on horseback, riding right, holding a scepter capped with cross; field mark behind king.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈ[Յ] [Struck in the city of Sis], lion to right with ornate cross behind; fieldmark below the lion.

AE Kardez. Sis mint.(18mm // 2.77g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of the Armenians], king seated facing, holding scepter in right hand and globus-cruciger in left.
Rev: ՇԻՆԵԼ ԳԱՂԱԳՆ ՍԻՍԷ [struck in the city of Sis], cross pattée, with saltire cross at center.

Oshin

(1307–1320)

AR Tram. Sis mint. Coronation issue. (22mm // 2.74g)
Obv: ԱՒՇԻՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Oshin king of the Armenians], king seated facing on throne decorated with lions, holding cross in his right hand and lis in his left, with feet resting upon footstool.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], two lions rampant back-to-back, each with heads reverted; between, cross pattée set on spear.

AR Takvorin. Sis mint. (20mm // 2.22g)
Obv: ԱՒՇԻՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Oshin king of the Armenians], king on horseback riding right, head facing, holding lis-tipped scepter; • and Յ in the field.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], lion advancing right, raising forepaw; long cross behind; • in the field.

AE Pogh. Sis mint. (15mm // 1.33g)
Obv: ԱՒՇԻՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Oshin king of the Armenians], crowned King seated on a bench-like throne, holding cross in left hand and fleur-de-lys in right.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], simple latin cross.

Levon iv

(1320-1341)

AR Takvorin. Sis mint. (20mm // 2.33g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of the Armenians], king on horseback riding right, head facing, holding lis-tipped scepter; fieldmark Ճ behind king and Մ below horse's head.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], lion advancing right, raising forepaw; long cross behind.

AE Pogh. Sis mint. (19mm // 2.22g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of the Armenians], king seated on decorated throne, facing holding lis-tipped sceptre and globus cruciger.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], cross pattée, with short saltire cross at center.

note sometimes the throne looks
a little different :

gosdantin ii

(1342–1344)

There are no known coins attributed to the short reign of Gosdantin 11.

gosdantin iii

(1344–1362)

AR Takvorin. Sis mint. (17mm // 1.76g)
Obv: ԿՈՍՏԸՆԴԻՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Gosdantin king of the Armenians], king on horseback riding right, head facing, holding lis-tipped scepter.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], lion advancing right, raising forepaw; cross behind.

AE Pogh. Sis mint.(16mm // 1.43g)
Obv: ԿՈՍՏԸՆԴԻՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Gosdantin king of the Armenians], crowned King seated on a bench-like throne, holding cross in left hand and fleur-de-lys in right.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], cross pattée, with saltire cross at center.

Levon, usurper

(1363-1365)

AR Takvorin. Sis mint.(20mm // 1.79g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Levon king of the Armenians], king on horseback riding right, head facing, holding lis-tipped scepter.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], lion advancing right, raising forepaw; cross behind.

... absolutely nothing is known about Levon the usurper, only that there was a usurper, and that his name was Levon.

gosdantin iv

(1362-1373)

AR Takvorin. Sis mint.(21mm // 2.20g)
Obv: ԿՈՍՏԸՆԴԻՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [Gosdantin king of the Armenians], king on horseback riding right, head facing, holding lis-tipped scepter.
Rev: ԿԱՐՈՂՈՒԹԲՆ ԱՍՏՈԻԾՈՅ [Struck in the city of Sis], lion advancing right, raising forepaw; cross behind.

Levon v

(1374-1375)

Bl Denier. Sis mint. (15mm // 0.54g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳ [Levon ki-], crowned bust of Levon V facing.
Rev: ԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [-ng of the Armenians], simple cross.

AE Pogh. Sis mint. (16mm // 0.8g)
Obv: ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳ [Levon ki-], lion of Cyprus rampant to right.
Rev: ԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ [-ng of the Armenians], cross potent.

there are a few variations, one with the lion to the left and one with doves on the quadrants of the cross :

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