Principality of Antioch, Bohémond III, AR BI Denier, Antioch Mint, 1163-1201 AD

$90.00

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SKU: B1.20 Category:

Description

Crusaders, Principality of Antioch, Bohémond III, AR BI Denier (silver, 0.97g, 18.5mm), Antioch Mint, 1163-1201 AD, 
Obv: ✠ BOANVHDVS, bust to left, wearing helmet and chain mail armour; crescent to left, star to right /
Rev: ✠ ANTIOCHIA, cross pattée; crescent in second angle
Ref: Crusaders 1995; CCS 68a Rarity/Choice: Common, aEF (beautifully toned)
Note: The Principality of Antioch was a Crusader state established after the First Crusade, with Bohémond III as its ruler from 1163 to 1201. Antioch, strategically located in modern-day Turkey, became a major Crusader stronghold. Bohémond III faced challenges from neighboring Muslim powers, leading to conflicts such as the Battle of Hattin in 1187. Despite these challenges, Antioch flourished culturally and economically under Bohémond III’s rule, becoming a center of Christian pilgrimage and trade in the Levant. The BI Denier coin minted during his reign features Bohémond’s bust to the left, depicted wearing a helmet and chain mail armor, symbols of his military leadership. The crescent to the left and the star to the right signify the Islamic threat faced by the Crusaders. On the reverse, the cross pattée represents the Christian identity of Antioch, with a crescent in the second angle symbolizing the ongoing conflict between Christianity and Islam in the region. This coin reflects the complex religious and political dynamics of the Crusader States during Bohémond III’s rule.