Cilician Armenia. AR tram. Levon (Leo) I, as king (1198-1219). Obverse: King enthroned, Armenian legend around "Levon King of the Armenians". Reverse: Two lions to side of cross, Armenian legend around "By the Will of God". Holed and plugged. This coin: Frank S. Robinson Auction 130, lot 334 (January 18, 2026). When Armenia was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century, a number of refugees settled in the Byzantine province of Cilicia, on the southern coast of Anatolia. The Armenians had a reputation as fierce soldiers, and were steadfastly Christian, and thus were allowed to establish a principate within Cilicia to help guard against the Muslim states along the Byzantine border. Levon (Leo) I, also known as Levon Medzakardz (Levon the Magnificent), was born in 1150, the grandson of the reigning prince. Levon became prince himself in 1187, and almost immediately faced an invasion by the Ayyubids. Levon proved a skilled warrior and was able to gain some territory. At the same time, the Ayyubid ruler, the legendary Saladin, was conquering the Kingdom of Jerusalem, which would precipitate the Third Crusade. Levon provided logistical help, including supplies and local guides, to the Western European armies who passed through the region during the Crusade. In 1198 Levon was crowned as king, establishing the kingdom of Cilician Armenia that would last for nearly 200 years. Levon died in 1219 and was succeeded by Zabel (Isabella). This coin type can be seen as an assertion of Levon's sovereignty, of Christianity, and of Armenian identity. Levon is depicted enthroned, wearing a crown, and uses the title King in the inscriptions, all clear assertions of his independent power. He holds a cross in one hand, the reverse features a cross with two lions (frequent symbols of kingship), and small crosses are at the 12 o'clock position of both obverse and reverse, emphasizing the importance of Christianity to Levon. In his other hand, he holds a fleur-de-lis; while this is most often seen as a French royal symbol, it can also be a more general Christian symbol, and turns up in various other medieval heraldry and coin designs. Finally, the use of Armenian for the legends, rather than the Greek used on contemporary Byzantine coins or the Latin of most other Christian states, is an assertion of Armenian culture. These coins of Levon I are fairly common today; this specimen, with its plugged hole, was just $30. Please post your coins of Levon I, or whatever else is related.
