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1 Kardez - Hetoum I dotted border, seated on bench type
| Issuer | Cilician Armenia |
|---|---|
| Year | 1226-1270 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Kardez (0.1) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Enthroned effigy of King Hetoum I facing forward, seated upon a bench-like throne, holding a royal mace in his right hand and a patriarchal cross in his left. The king wears a crown, and a small star or pellet appears in the left field. The design is rendered in the bold, flat relief characteristic of Armenian hammered copper coinage. The entire composition is enclosed within a dotted border. The Armenian legend surrounding the royal figure identifies him as king of the Armenians. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (1226-1270) |
| Additional information |
Hetoum I ruled Cilician Armenia for nearly half a century, longer than any other king of that dynasty, and spent much of that reign navigating the existential pressure of Mongol expansion. His 1254 submission to Möngke Khan — an in-person journey to Karakorum — secured Armenian survival at the cost of vassalage, a calculated bet that largely paid off. The copper kardez circulated through a kingdom that was simultaneously a Crusader ally, a Mongol tributary, and an active trading corridor between the Mediterranean and the Silk Road.
The dotted border variety is a recognized die distinction within the broader seated-figure series, useful for narrowing attribution within the forty-four year span this type covers.