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Sizin - Janus
| Issuer | Cyprus, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1398-1432 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Reverse description | A Jerusalem cross, comprising a large central cross with a small square at its center and four smaller crosses disposed one in each quarter, fills the central field and is enclosed within a solid inner ring. The reverse legend appears in the annular zone between the inner ring and a second solid ring at the rim. The Jerusalem cross design reflects the Lusignan dynastic claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem, rendered in the bold, angular style characteristic of medieval hammered coinage. |
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| Reverse lettering | IERLM E DE CIP (Translation: Jerusalem and Cyprus) |
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| Additional information |
Janus of Cyprus ruled during one of the most turbulent stretches of Lusignan history — his reign ended in humiliation when the Mamluks sacked Limassol in 1426, captured Janus himself at the Battle of Khirokitia, and held him for ransom in Cairo for nearly a year. The billon coinage of his reign reflects the kingdom's chronic fiscal strain; the silver content in these small issues had been progressively debased across successive Lusignan reigns, and Janus inherited a monetary system already struggling to maintain credibility.
The ransom extracted by the Mamluks — reported at 200,000 ducats — effectively bankrupted what remained of the royal treasury.