11th century Norman.... Maybe???? kinda looks like the type at any rate. VK (Vallient Knight) is the expert on the type.
I'd guess Armenian. Can't make out the legends, but looks like this one: http://www.armenian-history.com/images/coins/levonII.jpg Levon II 1270-1289
Thanks for the suggestions Ripley & DCH. I was also thinking possibly Armenian. I tracked down the same type coin as DCH linked to in his post. All the Armenian coins of this type t hat I've been able to view on the internet have a lion portrait. I cannot seem to find anything with a deer? portrait. I'll start looking at Norman coinage and see if I can come up with a match.
Yeah, that looks about right. I was thrown off by the lack of the Greek type cross or a Maltese type cross. Here are 2 Armenian Crusader era coins I own from 1289. Here is a 11th century Norman I own -
That last one is probably an AE billon/contemporary forgery denar of Manfred von Hohenstaufen as king of Sicily, Spahr 204. MEC 611, minted at Messina 1258 - 1266.
Thanks all for your help. I came across a great online reference work pertaining to Armenian coinage if anyones interested....... http://www.numismatas.com/Forum/Pdf/David Ruckser/Coins of Cilician Armenia.pdf
