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Message:: [QUOTE="Curtisimo, post: 3179289, member: 83845"][ATTACH=full]818971[/ATTACH]Hello everyone and welcome to Round 3 of the 2018 CoinTalk Imperator Tournament! If you are unaware of the tournament I invite you to get caught up with all the fun in the master thread; <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-it%E2%80%99s-time-the-second-annual-coin-imperator-tournament-2018.320328/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/threads/ancients-it%E2%80%99s-time-the-second-annual-coin-imperator-tournament-2018.320328/">https://www.cointalk.com/threads/an...annual-coin-imperator-tournament-2018.320328/</a> [ATTACH=full]818970[/ATTACH] The winner of this match will be moving on to the semifinals! A big thank you to all of our participants. Without further ado… ............................................................ #4 [USER=75563]@ancientcoinguru[/USER] [ATTACH=full]818972[/ATTACH]CRUSADER Cyprus1310-1324 Henry II (second reign)AR gros 4.34gm - 16mmObv: Henry II seated on curule chair, with foreparts of lions at sides, facing, cloak fastened with brooch on his right shoulder; holding a scepter in his right hand and a globus cruciger in his left "hENRI REI DE" Rev: Cross of Jerusalem "+IERUSALEM E DE ChIPR"Reference: CCS 52 Price: $140 Why It is Cool:Crusader coins are cool. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> And coins related to the Knights Templar, a wealthy and powerful Catholic military order closely tied to the Crusades, are especially intriguing. This specific coin appealed to me since Henry II played a pivotal role in the history of the Knights Templar -- it was Henry II who oversaw the dissolution of the Knights Templar in Cyprus in 1313 and the transfer of their property to the Hospitallers. It was minted by Henry II early in his second reign and quite likely circulated in Cyprus during the last days of the Knights Templar. Bargain:Medieval coins are relatively inexpensive, but Crusader coins can draw a premium. While this coin is far from perfect, I was impressed by some of the fine details – one can see the fingers of the left hand which holds the globus cruciger, and King Henry’s facial expression and drapery is visible. In the past 2 years, CNG sold 3 of these coins in their e-auction for $180-$220 plus buyer’s fee. I felt this coin was a good buy at $140, especially since my coin is in better condition than the 3 sold in the CNG e-auctions. History:Crusader coins are those which were produced by the autonomous Latin states established in the eastern Mediterranean. For 100 years, Acre formed the base of the crusading movement in Palestine and was the last secure stronghold of the kingdom of Jerusalem. The Knights Templar were one of the wealthiest and most powerful military orders during the Crusades. Founded in 1119, they had a reputation as skilled warriors and shrewd tacticians, but also had a large percentage of their members who managed their finances (the wealth of almost 1000 strongholds). With the fall of Acre in 1291, support for the Templars faded. Phillip IV of France arrested and tortured many of the Templars in 1307 into giving false confessions and gained control of their finances, and Pope Clement V disbanded the order in 1312. In spite of being an epileptic, in poor health, and in a power struggle with his brothers, Henry II’s first reign lasted over 20 years (1285-1306). In 1306, he was removed from power and exiled by his brother, Amalric, who was aided by the Templars. But in 1310, Henry II was returned to the throne with the aid of the Hospitallers. Perhaps in retaliation for the aid the Templars gave his brother, and as a reward for the aid the Hospitallers provided to him, Henry II gave the Templars property to the Hospitallers. [ATTACH=full]818973[/ATTACH]Kolossi Castle: One of the strongholds taken from the Templars and given to the Hospitallers by Henry II in 1313 (image from <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Cyprus_-_Kolossi_castle_13.JPG" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Cyprus_-_Kolossi_castle_13.JPG" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>) During Henry II’s second reign, which lasted until his death in 1324, Cyprus enjoyed comparative peace. Though the desire to recapture Jerusalem was still alive, Henry II and the Genoese were not able to accomplish this. However, Henry II of Cyprus is still an interesting figure in the history of Crusades -- he holds a place in the history books as the last man to ever be crowned King of Jerusalem in 1286, and the last Crusader king to hold Acre. ............................................................ #21 [USER=91461]@Ryro[/USER] [ATTACH=full]818974[/ATTACH]TiberiusAD 14-37 CE. AR Denarius minted at Lugdunum.Laureate head right of Tiberius.Reverse: Female figure (Livia as Pax?) seated right.RIC 26; BMC 34. Appealing portrait; Choice Very Fine.The "Tribute Penny" of Biblical fame. Price: $54 Why It’s Cool:Bargain:Just to give a flavor for how good a deal this purchase was, the coin was merely listed as "Bible coin-Tribute penny" with no other description from a seller who had no other coins for sale. His ID was: rarebiblesandmore. Below is the only picture that was shown along with that meager description. It shows only the reverse at a pixelated, slanted, upside down angle. Which also shows what a gamble this steal of a deal really was![ATTACH=full]818976[/ATTACH](oh, the exhilaration when my coin had finally arrived with that beautiful clear portrait and easily readable inscription) History:This is probably the coin referenced by Jesus Christ in the bible! More about the "probably" in a bit. Like many of my favorite stories, this one begins with a set-up (que the piano playing "The Entertainer"). A few schmucks decided they will get Jesus to speak out against taxation so they can hand him over to Pilate and be done with the rebelliously long haired up start (while possibly lining their pockets with a few "pennies" for the treachery). So one fella (who looked suspiciously like a false beard wearing Robert Redford) asked, "Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?" Jesus asked to see a "penny" to inspect it. The Greek word here is "dēnarion" ala Roman Denarius (yeah, I WISH I could get a Denarius for a penny). [ATTACH=full]818977[/ATTACH]The Tribute Money – 1516 painting by Titian commissioned by Alfonso I d’Este to serve as the decoration for the door of his ancient coin cabinet. (<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Titian_-_The_Tribute_Money_-_Google_Art_Project_(715452).jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Titian_-_The_Tribute_Money_-_Google_Art_Project_(715452).jpg" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>) After inspection, Jesus asks a rather Paul Newmanesque fellow who's on the coin. Butch Cassidy answers, "Caesar". Whereupon Jesus said, "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's". Impressed, and realizing the grift was up, they went away. "The Sting" the parable is not. But rather a summary of Christ's view on balancing religion, government and society. Get it? [ATTACH=full]818978[/ATTACH]Paul Newman in “The Sting” The reasoning for the Tiberius Denarius being the "penny" thought to be referenced is simply because Tiberius would have been in power at this point in time. That being said, there is a strong case that the Augustus denarius showing Lucius and Gaius on the reverse is the actual tribute penny. It would have been more readily available. Especially in a place as far off as Judaea where Tiberius Denarii may not have made it to. [ATTACH=full]818979[/ATTACH](Redford took a bite out of mine to make sure it was real)AugustusSilver Denarius, 27 BC-CE 14.Lugdunum, 2 BC-AD 12.Obverse: CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI F PATER PATRIAE, laureate head of Augustus right.Reverse: AVGVSTI F COS DESIG PRINCIVVENT around, CL CAESARES in exergue, Gaius and Lucius Caesars standing facing each other. As well, there are many other coin-didates for the title Tribute Penny handed to Jesus...which only matters IF you believe the story really took place. As I would be remiss if I didn't mention that there is a very similar story told in the Gospel of Thomas. Except in this one the coin is gold (sorry, I have no Roman gold, or any gold coins for that matter, to illustrate here). [ATTACH=full]819088[/ATTACH] All in all, like any story with multiple versions from multiple storytellers and none can be proven, we want to take into account the author/s and their intentions for perpetuating the parable. Jesus is shown as the "mark" being targeted by nefarious outsiders whom he is able to outsmart while still giving us a good moral on how we should balance our lives. In the end we have here, in this short story, all the elements to make Aesop proud and one fun and highly collectible coin/con. Pianoman, play me out...[MEDIA=youtube]fPmruHc4S9Q[/MEDIA] ............................................................ A Gentle ReminderThe first two rounds went about as well as anyone could have hoped from the perspective of keeping the commentary fun, interesting and friendly. It would be a challenge to run a tournament of this type on almost any other board but with the great people here on CT it has been both an honor and a pleasure. Lets try to keep up with the perfect score in the friendliness department by concentrating comments on why you liked an entry instead of why you didn't like the other. Remember that everyone gets 3 votes to choose which coin you think comes out on top in each of the three categories. With that I will open the thread for comments, opinions, coin pile-ons and random posting of coin things as you see fit.[/QUOTE]

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