Rulers Of Cyprus

Byzantine Cyprus, Isaac Comnenus, Usurper, AD 1184-1191

Isaac Comnenus was a great-nephew of Manuel I and rebelled against the harsh rule of Andronicus, establishing himself as an independent ruler in Cyprus. The government in Constantinople was not able to squelch the rebellion and Isaac ruled for 7 years, finally being put down by Richard the Lionheart of England who was fighting the Third Crusade. Isaac snubbed and insulted Richard's betrothed, Berengaria, and when Richard arrived, and seeing the obvious richness and importance of the island, he came against Isaac. Isaac surrendered on condition that he not be placed in chains of iron, so Richard had him placed in chains of silver and sent to the Holy Land where he died in the prison of Margat. Richard soon tried to sell the island to the Templars for 100,000 gold bezants but they were unable to control the population and it was ceded to Guy de Lusignan who had recently been ousted from Jerusalem by Saladin. Thus began the long reign of the island by the Crusaders, ended by the Venetians in the 15th Century.

 

 

 
Billon Aspron Trachy. Virgin enthroned facing, nimbate and wearing palladium and maphorium, she holds before her the nimbate head of the infant Christ facing/Isaac and Saint George stand facing, long patriarchal cross between them, Nicosia mint(?), S1991. Centered, obv. weak as usual for these, head of St. George weak, slightly rough brown and green patina, not lovely but far nicer than most of the scyphate issues, RARE and 1 of only a few collectible types for him, Fine/about Very Fine.
 
Guy de Lusignan Founder 1192 - 1194 Lord of Cyprus


MC201.

Some catalogs place this coin under Jerusalem, some under Cyprus as the beginning of that series. It was during Guy's reign that the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem was lost, piece by piece, until the crusaders were forced to flee to Cyprus, setting up a kingdom there that lasted for several centuries.

Crusader States, Cyprus (Kingdom of Jerusalem), Guy de Lusignan, King of Jerusalem (AD1186-1192) and Lord of Cyprus, AD1192-1194, AE Denier. +REX GVIDO, King's bust facing/+EIERVSALEM, rotunda of Holy Sepulchre, Schlumberger III, 25, p.88; Met. 628. Obv. centered very slightly high crowding some legend, rev. centered somewaht high losing some legend, clear portrait and sepulchre, dark brown patina, VERY RARE, about Very Fine/Fine+
Amaury (Brother) 1194 - 1205 King of Cyprus and Jerusalem  

Hugues I(Son)

1205 - 1218 King of Cyprus

  

MC220.

Crusader States, Cyprus, Hugh I, AD 1205-1218, Billon Denier. Stylized castle/Cross, Met. 634var.; CCS.9; Schl. IV,4. Centered on irregular flan, dark grey tone, some weakness in legends, central designs clear, Fine-Fine+


Henri I (Son) 1218 - 1253

King of Cyprus and Lord of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

  

Hugues II(Son) 1253 - 1267

King of Cyprus and Lord of the Kingdom of Jerusalem

  


Hugues III (Cousin) 1267 - 1284

King of Cyprus and Jerusalem

  


Jean I (Son) 1284 - 1285

King of Cyprus and Jerusalem

  

Henri II (Brother) 1285 - 1306

King of Cyprus and Jerusalem

  

Amaury (Brother) 1306 - 1310

Regent of the Kingdom  of Cyprus and Jerusalem - Prince of Tyre

  

Henri II  (reassumed) (Brother) 1310 - 1324

King of Cyprus and Jerusalem

  
Hugues IV (Nephew) 1324 - 1359 King of Cyprus and Jerusalem  
MC250. Crusader States, Cyprus, Hugh IV, 1324-1359, AR Gros (4.51g). King enthroned, B with pellet above to left/Cross, small crosses in quadrants, ex. James Stewart Coll., Schl. VI, 24. Centered, grey tone, few spots of weakness, nice example, Very Fine....$145 Photo

 

Pierre I (Son) 1359 - 1369 King of Cyprus and Jerusalem

  

MC255

 Crusader States, Cyprus, Peter/Pierre I, 1359-1369, AR Gros (4.45g). King enthroned facing, shield to rt. in field/Jerusalem cross, MPS880. Near centered, legends partial, light grey tone, nice king with good facial detail, Very Fine
Pierre II (Son) 1369 - 1382 King of Cyprus and Jerusalem  

MC252

MC253

 

Crusader States, Cyprus, Peter/Pierre II, 1369-1382, Billon Denier. Rampant lion/Cross, CCS 104-5, Schl.-, Met.-. Near centered on slightly squarish flan, some legend off, toned, bold clear lion and cross, RARE, Very Fine

Crusader States, Cyprus, Peter/Pierre II, 1369-1382, Billon Denier. Rampant lion/Cross, CCS 104-5, Schl.-, Met.-. Near centered, some legend off, darkly toned, clear lion and cross, RARE, Fine....$95 Photo

Jacques I (Uncle) 1382 - 1398

King of Cyprus, Jerusalem & Armenia

  

MC210A

MC210B.

. Crusader States, Cyprus, Jacques I, AD 1382-1398, Billon Denier. Lion rampant/Cross, M.797; Schl.VII, 9var; CCS 113a. Centered, fairly bold, toned and lightly porous, Fine+ - about Very Fine....$45 Photo

Crusader States, Cyprus, Jacques I, AD 1382-1398, Billon Denier. Lion rampant/Cross, M.797; Schl.VII, 9var; CCS 113a. Centered, clear types, lightly toned and very lightly porous, Fine+ - about Very Fine....$45 Photo


Janus (Son) 1398 - 1432

King of Cyprus, Jerusalem & Armenia

  

MC222.

Crusader States, Cyprus, Janus/Jean II, AD 1398-1432 and 1432-1458, Billon Denier. Lion rampant/Cross, M.-; Schl.VII, 2; CCS 126. Centered, clear types, toned and very lightly porous, Very Fine+

Jean II (Son) 1432 - 1458

King of Cyprus, Jerusalem & Armenia

  

MC224.

Crusader States, Cyprus, Jean/John II, AD 1432-1458, AR Gros Grand, 1st group (3.80g). King enthroned facing, head within Latin legends, cauldron to left/Jerusalem Cross, crosslets, Schl.pg 199, Lambros 73. Centered, dark grey tone, nice figure of king with nice features, RARE, Very Fine
Not only is this a nice example of this coin, it also has a very prestigious provenance and included are the tags from some of the aforementioned collections.

Charlotte (Daughter) 1458 - 1487 Queen of Cyprus, Jerusalem & Armenia
Jacques II (Half Brother) 1460 - 1473 King of Cyprus, Jerusalem & Armenia

Jacques III (Son) 1474 - 1474 Infant King of Cyprus, Jerusalem & Armenia
Caterina Cornaro Mother 
(widow of Jacques II) 1473 - 1489
(abdicated) Queen of Cyprus, Jerusalem & Armenia

 

  

Cyprus, Venetian Occupation,

Giovanni Mocerigo, AD 1478-1485,


  

MC213.

 AR Marcello or Mezza Lira counterstamped with value 7(soldi) 3 (denari). Undertype centered and obv. clear (Christ enthroned) as are countermarks; the 7 is on the chest of Christ and the 3 below it near the edge of the flan, EXTREMELY RARE, historically interesting, only about 50 known counterstamps from this series on all coins, Fine-Very Fine

Cyprus, Venetian Occupation,

Giovanni Mocerigo, AD 1478-1485

  


MC265.

 ,AR Marcello (2.617g) counterstamped with value 8(soldi) 2 (denari). Undertype (a Venetian Grosso) centered and obv. clear (Christ enthroned) as are countermarks; the 8 is on the chest of Christ and the 2 below it near the edge of the flan, EXTREMELY RARE, historically interesting, only about 50 known counterstamps from this series on all coins, Fine-Very Fine
Cyprus, Venetian Occupation, undertype Louis of Savoy, AD1459-1460,  

MC266.

 AR Gros, type C (2.190g) counterstamped with value 6(soldi) 1(denari). Undertype (a Cyprus gros) near centered but clipped and obv. clear (king enthroned) as are countermarks; the 6 is on the chest of the king and the 1 below it near the edge of the flan, flatness on rev. due to counterstamps, notch upper edge where it appears to have been pierced once, possibly for wearing, EXTREMELY RARE, historically interesting, only about 50 known counterstamps from this series on all coins, this example doubly rare as Louis of Savoy is SCARCE, this coin Ex. Stewart coll.; Ex. Seaby 11/57, Fine....
This coin is doubly interesting as it appears that it was originally counterstamped to be a 9 soldi and 1 denari coin, was pierced and later clipped down to the weight of a 6 soldi 1 denari coin, making this a coin that has been valued at least 3 times for use. The 6 would normally show right side up if it were the originally intended number, but here looks like a 9 and 9 soldi 1 denari would have been about right for a Cyprus gros of Louis, thus it appears to have been cleverly revalued by clipping.

Cyprus, Venetian Occupation,

undertype Peter I, AD1359-1369,

 

MC267.

AR Demi Gros (1.996g) counterstamped with value 2(soldi) 6(denari). Undertype (a Cyprus demigros) near centered and obv. clear (king enthroned) as are countermarks; the 2 is on the chest of the king and the 6 above it near the left edge of the flan, flatness on rev. due to counterstamps, small pierce at lower left obv., possibly for wearing, EXTREMELY RARE, historically interesting, only about 50 known counterstamps from this series on all coins, this coin Ex. Stewart coll., about Very Fine

Con Information taken from Guy Clark's Ancient Coins and Antiquities
Medieval Coins

http://www.ancient-art.com/medieval.htm