Denier Tournois

The denier tournois is a small billon coin usually weighing less than 1 gram and with a dimeter of around 17-20 mm. They were minted by various rulers in Frankish/Latin occupied territories of the Byzantine empire after the Fourth Crusade.

The denier tournois takes its design from the deniers minted in the city of Tours (France) during the 11th and 12th centuries. Why they used as a model the deniers from Tours instead of any other French city?    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Note that this webpage is sort of a quick cheat sheet to help with identifying the different deniers tournois. The rulers of the Principality of Achaea, Duchy of Athens etc also minted other coins.

Duchy of Athens

Duchy of Athens. William I de la Roche (1280-1287).
Bl Denier. Thebes mint. (18 mm // 0.84 g)
Obv: + G:DVX ATENES; cross pattée inside a circle.
Rev: + THEBE CIVIS; château tournois.

William in French is Guillaume, so sometimes his name shows up as Guillaume 1 de la Roche. Not to be confused with Guy 1 de la Roche, who was also a duke of Athens (1225-1263).

Duchy of Athens. Guy II de la Roche (1294-1308).
Bl Denier. Thebes mint. (19 mm // 0.85 g)
Obv: + GVI DVX ATЄNЄS; cross pattée inside a circle. 
Rev: + THEBANI CIVIS; château tournois.

Note on the illustrations and fonts

All the illustrations in this page were made by me (Koko) on canva. If you want to use them wherever you’re very welcome to do so :) and if you could give this website a shoutout that would be awesome.

Regarding the font on the illustrations, I used “Goudy Thirty” made by Dieter Steffmann. I know it’s not a super close match to the lettering on the actual coins, but hopefully it’s good enough for the purposes of identification. If you know of a font that’s more suitable please let me know, and if you have experience using the Numismatica Medievalis font  please please contact me, I’d love to give it a try.

Dieter Steffmann (​https://www.1001fonts.com/users/steffmann/)

Numismatica Medievalis font (http://www.numisbel.be/NumisMed_GB.htm)

Principality of Achaea

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Smpad

(1296–1298)

Historical background

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)

Historical background

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)

Historical background

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)

Historical background

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)

Historical background

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)

Historical background

gosdantin iii

(1344–1362)

Historical background

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)

Historical background

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.

gosdantin iv

(1362-1373)

Historical background

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)

Historical background

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 :