Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 1937. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CRUSADERS, Antioch? Circa 12th century. PB 23mm Tessera (7.93 gm, 12h). Three facing busts, the central nimbate with cross above, the two flanking busts crowned in the Byzantine manner; corrupted legend / Patriarchal cross flanked by saltires; corrupted legend, possibly for "ANTIOCHIA", outer radiate margin. Cf. MWI 2419-2433 for similar pieces. VF for type, brown-gray patina. Rare. ($300)

This is one of the largest and most complex of a series of crude lead tokens that appear to have been used as a small change in the early years of the Crusader occupation of Syria. Most simply bear crude busts and crosses. The triple bust type of this piece is probably adopted from the histamena of Romanus IV (1068-1071) with standing Christ flanked by Romanus and Eudocia (SB 1859-1861). The patriarchal cross is also Byzantine, but the small saltires are more western in character. Theses coins are found at Crusader era sites in modern Turkey and Syria, and occasionally in Israel. Little else about them is known.