Any ideas where I should start with these? I bought them together as unknowns - lured in by the thought that they look quite old and the large size. Around 42mm to 45mm or so and 20.5g. / 25.9g. Many thanks for any help...
Wow. I'm stumped. Lion with post Byzantine styled latin? English Middle-Aged bronze medallion? It doesn't look like "legal tender" to me. I don't venture into that Era, though. Good luck.
search: dutch jeton lion You'll see similar examples. Yours is quite worn, I don't know if you'll be able to get an exact ID.
Thanks all for the replies! I have actually handled a number of Dutch jetons before and these are different. They are significantly heavier and thicker. But I will check into it
The reverse of the second one appears to read FOEDERATA/ LIBERA/ FECIT. Can't make out the rest of the legends. I think simply calling it a jeton without any other information is a bit of a cop out. I've seen a lot of jetons, and I haven't seen any like this. To sum up - probably a jeton, but we need more info.
Might be Latin Kingdom ruling the occupied Byzantine empire after the Venetians sacked the city and established a Western, Latin rule over the truncated Empire in the Thirteenth Century. Venetian lion and Latin inscription version of Byzantine Greek inscription bronzes. A good find if so.
Nope, most definitely not. This is what kind of coins were produced under the Latins in Constantinople:
A good thought, but I don't see it in the references. The legends don't line up right. LotsofCoppers - can you try to transcribe the legends for us?
Could that be related to the Guelphs and Ghibellines? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guelphs_and_Ghibellines I am coming up with possibly GVELFI / VICTORIA (?) for the first two lines in the center (2nd photo).
At least for the coin with the rampant lion, there are no match ups with either Guelph or Ghibelline coats of arms. The lion is somewhat common, every country has numerous versions.
Ok here is a little trial and error... the legend in the first photo may be: A BONONIENSI CAPTVS FVIT Which Google Translate tells me is Bolognese was arrested. Something to do with Bologna would tie in with the Guelphs.
It may have to do with the Battle of Fossalta in 1249 when the Guelphs of Bologna captured Enzio of Sardinia, son of Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Fossalta. "Libertas" is the motto of Bologna and that may be what is written on the banner on the center. That's the first... I haven't even attempted the 2nd yet.
The more I look at the lion, the more of the Venetian I see. Check out the St. Mark lion on medieval Venetian coins. Notice the head of a facing human head on the coin and the lion holding a staff. Try Googling, Venetian St. Mark lion coin. Even after the Byzantines reclaimed Constantinople the Venetians hung onto other parts of the empire, including a number of islands.
I see what you mean! I did find some coins of Bologna with a similar design too- I also think some other words of the legend on the 1st piece / 2nd photo are possibly FILIVS FRIDERICT II which fits with the thought it has something to do with the Guelphs capturing the son of Frederick II Holy Roman Emperor. The lion piece has such a similar feel to it - my guess is that it dates to the same circumstances but I haven't been able to decipher it yet.
