Crusader States: ca. 1163-1201 billon denier of Bohemond III of Antioch PCGS XF45. Cert. #64263087. Numista-55126 or similar variant. Diameter: 18 mm approx. Weight: 0.9 g approx. Ex-"rk0123a", eBay, 7 September 2026. Purchased in the slab. A medieval "helmet" denier of Bohemond III, Prince of the Crusader State of Antioch. He was also known as "Bohemond the Child" or "Bohemond the Stutterer". The coin was struck in hand-hammered billon, a debased silver alloy. These are relatively common, but they're a pretty iconic Crusader type, evocative for the armored knight on the obverse. Obverse: Mailed and helmeted bust left; crescent left, star right. Reverse: Cross pattée; crescent in one quarter. There is an interesting CoinTalk discussion thread about these coins here. 016565
Is the lettering around the outside supposed to say something? It looks as legible as cuneiform to me.
These medieval letter forms were indeed ridiculously blocky and are notoriously hard to read. But yep, those letters do say something: ✠ BOAMVNDVS on the obverse and ✠ ANTIOCHIA on the reverse (spellings vary). You can see it if you squint long enough. Actually, your “cuneiform” comment might not be that far from the truth. I suppose they engraved the dies with wedge-like punches. The finished result bore only the vaguest resemblance to the lettering they were attempting to portray. One can get used to reading medieval coin inscriptions with practice, though. I suppose that goes to illustrate how much minting technology took a step backwards after the decline of the Roman Empire and moving into the Middle Ages. It wouldn’t be until the Renaissance that coins and medals were again engraved with the proficiency shown by the Ancient Greeks and Romans during their earlier “golden ages”.
Well, the reason I asked is because many of the barbaric tribes could not read. They made coins that looked like what Roman coins used to look like, but the legends around the outside were just "letter-shaped" and weren't actually letters. A lot of the Celtic coins don't have any actual words, just things around the outside because that's what Roman coins had ("barbaric imitations"). I didn't think a place like Antioch with the Crusaders would have had that, but they don't look like letters to me!
I also have a Bohemond coin but not in as good shape: Crusader State of Antioch, Bohemond III, AD 1163-1201 Billon silver, 17 mm, 0.59 gm
