The Last Titular Monarch of Armenia

CNG 85, Lot: 132. Estimate $2500. Sold for $4200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARMENIA, Cilician Armenia. Royal. Catherine Cornaro. As Queen of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Armenia, 1474-1489. AR Gros (27mm, 3.53 g, 3h). Type C. + KΛTERIИΛ · V · VEИΛ · REGIИΛ ·, Catherine seated facing on curved throne, holding lis-tipped scepter and globus cruciger; P to left / + IERVSΛLEM · CIPREI · ΛRMEИIΛ, cross of Jerusalem. M&P pl. 25, 2-6 (same obv. die); CCS 172 var. (legends). Good VF, toned. Struck on a broad flan. Rare.

From the R.A. Collection. Ex John J. Slocum Collection (Sotheby, 6 March 1997), lot 746.

Born to a powerful and well-known Venetian family, Catherine Cornaro married King James II of Cyprus by proxy in 1468, then formally in 1472. A popular union for the Republic of Venice, the marriage opened Cyprus to Venetian commercial rights. James’ health declined soon after the marriage, however, and his death in 1473 left Catherine as regent for their yet-to-be-born child. Following her infant son James III’s death before his first birthday, Catherine became the titular queen of Jerusalem, Cyprus, and Armenia. Continued decline within the kingdom, however, forced Catherine to abdicate and cede the territory to the administration of the Doge of Venice in 1489. With this abdication, Cilician Armenia ceased to be held under any monarchy, native or foreign.