Extremely Rare Crusader Seal of Baldwin II

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1204. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $7750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Baldwin II. Latin emperor of Constantinople, 1240-1261. PB Seal (47mm, 40.48 g, 12h). BALD(OY)INOC DECPOTHC (TH ligate) POR[FVROGENNHTO]C O FLANTRA[C] between two borders of dots, Baldwin on horseback advancing to right, head facing, crowned, wearing military attire, holding a scepter surmounted by cross over crescent in right hand and reins in left; head of emperor and legs and tail of horse protruding into border / BALDVINUS DEI GRA [IMPATOR ROMANIE SEMP AVGV], Baldwin, crowned, seated facing on cushioned thokos, feet resting on footstool, wearing divitision and loros whose end falls over left arm, holding cruciform scepter in right hand and globus cruciger in left; scepter and head of emperor protruding into border. BLS I 114b; cf. Schlumberger, Sigillographie de l’Orient latin 16 and pl. VII, 9 (obv. only illustrated); DOCBS -; Seyrig -; Vatican -; Orghidan -; Jordanov -. VF, dusty-gray, holed. Extremely rare and historically important.

From the Robert E. Hecht Collection.

This rare seal of Baldwin II, the last Latin emperor of Constantinople, shows a degree of detail unusual for seals. Baldwin came to the throne at a time of financial crisis and much of his reign was spent in the West attempting to raise money and men. He was forced to sell holy relics (including the Crown of Thorns to Louis IX, who placed it in his famous San-Chapelle). In desperation, he even pledged his son to Venetian merchants in exchange for their financial support. His efforts were not enough, and in 1261 Michael VIII Palaeologus captured Constantinople. Baldwin fled to the West where he endeavored to raise support to retake the city. He retained the title of Emperor of Constantinople, and gold seals similar to this example were issued in 1268 and 1269.