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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Milesofwho, post: 3089798, member: 91469&quot;]This is my other purchase, besides the ones seen in <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/new-pickups.316965/#post-3089148" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/new-pickups.316965/#post-3089148">this thread</a> (and <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/bullet-money-help.316951/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/bullet-money-help.316951/">this one</a>). I’ve always liked this type, and it even ranks so highly as to be one of two Latin issues I deem worthy of an interesting design rather than a so-so redo of the same old types ([USER=74799]@Quant.Geek[/USER] has the other one, SB 2048). The Latin Empire was created after the Crusaders, called Latins by the Byzantines, conquered and sacked Constantinople in 1204. It had a troubled exsistence, with its first emperor, Baldwin I, being captured at the Battle of Adrianople less than a year after he was crowned. After ten years of success under Henry, Baldwin’s brother and the next emperor, the Empire’s fortunes slowly turned. His brother-in-law and&nbsp; successor, Peter, did not even reach Constantinople to claim his throne, but was captured by the Despotate of Epiros on the way. His wife Yolanda was regent for two years, until it was found out that he had died. Her son Robert I did no good for the Empire, losing Thessalonika to Epiros and suffering a defeat from Nicaea. His son Baldwin II was a minor at the time of Robert’s death, so John of Brienne was elected as regent-for-life. John was left with only Constantinople, but fended off a siege in 1236. He died the next year and Baldwin II took over Constantinople. The Empire had severe economic problems at that point, leading Baldwin to sell the rights to the County of Luxembourg, pawning the Crown of Thorns, and even handing over his only son to Venetian merchants as a pledge for loans of money. While scouting out Constantinople right before it was retaken, the Nicaean Alexios Strategopoulos noticed that the city was completely undefended. Baldwin II escaped from Constantinople, and claimants for the Empire lasted until 1383.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]779431[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]779432[/ATTACH]</p><p>Latin issue AE aspron trachy 1204-1261, 1.79 g, 21 mm.</p><p>Obv. Archangel Michael standing.</p><p>Rev. half-length bust of Christ facing.</p><p>SB 2036. Slightly double struck. Flan break, clipped. Nice quality, with roughly half of Christ’s face on the reverse.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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