Crusader Coin - Bohemond III - Circa 1163-1201 CE
$615
Denomination: AR Denier
Date: 1163-1201 AD
Reign: Bohemond III
Mint: Antioch (Turkey)
Mount: Sterling Silver with garnet accents
Description: Obverse: Helmeted bust left of knight wearing
chainmaiL with crescent pointing up in left field and 5-pointed
star in right field, Legend “BOAMVNDUS”. Reverse: Cross with
crescent top right field pointing left. Legend “ANTIOCNIA”.
History: The First Crusade was declared in 1095 by Pope Urban
II and its objective was to provide military support to Byzantine
Emperor Alexios I against the Seljuk Turks, as well as reclaiming
the "Holy Land" from Muslim rule. The Crusades started around 1095
and continued for nearly 200 years, during that time four different
Crusades were made to retake Jerusalem. The Crusades in the Middle
East ended when the city of Acre fell in 1291.
These silver deniers or pennies were issued in the name of King
Bohemond III (1163-1201), who in the summer of 1191, alongside Guy
de Lusignan met Richard of England (Lion Heart) during the siege of
Acre. Richard was part of the Third Crusade (1189–1192), an attempt
by three European monarchs (including Richard of England) to
reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin.
