Sale: CNG 61, Lot: 2342. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2002.  Sold For $190. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ARMENIA. Hetoum II. 1289-1293, 1295-1296, and 1301-1305. AR Obol (0.66 gm). Crowned head facing / Cross potent; crescent in lower right corner. Bedoukian 1582; AC 394 var. (no crescent, legends). Very rare. VF, toned. ($200)

Hetoum II reigned thrice amidst periods of struggle, albeit never as a crowned king. He abdicated from his first reign in favor of his brother Toros, then retiring to a monastery. After two years Hetoum's abscence was noticed and he was recalled to the throne. This second reign was not opposed by Toros, and the two travelled together in 1296 on a state visit to Constantinople. This visit strengthened ties to the Eastern Empire, where their sister, Rita, was empress. This journey concluded Hetoum's second reign, while the throne was turned over to another brother, Smpad, who acted as regent. Hetoum was a good statesman and also maintained alliances with the Mongols and the Christian Cypriots. Hetoum's issues are very much like Crusader deniers in their appearance, because they were patterned after Crusader coins, especially the coinage of Jerusalem.