ARMENIA, Cilician Armenia. Royal. Levon I, 1198-1219. Tank (Bronze, 21 mm, 2.59 g, 11 h), Sis. ['Levon King of the Armenians'] (in Armenian) Crowned leonine head of Levon I facing slightly to right; seven pellets in crown. Rev. ['Struck in the city of Sis'] (in Armenian) Patriarchal cross between two stars. AC 304. CCA 757V. Heavilly clipped into a pendant, otherwise, very fine.



This unusual piece was crafted from a Levon I coin into a pendant, likely intended to be worn around the neck. In the process, most of the inscription was removed, leaving only the king's lion portrait on the obverse and the Patriarchal cross on the reverse. The carefully cut image of the king suggests that this side was intended as the front of the pendant, as the edge on the reverse is left protruding.