CNG 85, Lot: 100. Estimate $1250. Sold for $4100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARMENIA, Cilician Armenia. Royal. Levon I. 1198-1219. BI Denier (17mm, 0.74 g, 5h). Struck for use in Antioch. + LЄO DЄI GRTIA (sic), cross pattée / + RЄX ARMЄИIOR, crowned head facing. AC 281 var. (obv. legend); CCA 9 var. (same); MAC 33 var. (same); CCS 133a var. (same). VF, light flan crack. Very rare.

From the R.A. Collection. Ex Araratian Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 36, 5 December 1995), lot 767.

When Levon was granted the title of king of Armenia, he took the assumption that this entitled him to the crusader principality of Antioch as well. Despite two assaults on the city in 1203 and 1208, Levon was never able to capture it and enforce his claim against Bohémond IV. These rare western-style deniers were most likely struck at Sis for circulation in the Antiochene territory which Levon did hold.