CRUSADERS. Antioch. Raymond-Roupen, 1216-1219. Denier (Silver, 17 mm, 0.88 g, 10 h). ✠ ROPINVS Helmeted head of a knight to left flanked by crescent and five-pointed star.
Rev. ✠ AMTIOCHIA Cross pattée in center; in upper right field, crescent downward. CCS -. Karl Shea, 'A die-link between Raymond Roupen and Bohemond IV of Antioch' in NC 165, 2005, p. 281. Metcalf, Crusades, -. Roma E-Auction 90 (2021), 1569. Wäckerlin -. Extremely rare, one of apparently just three known examples. Slightly rough and with an edge crack
, otherwise, very fine.
From a British collection, acquired before 2021.
Raymond-Roupen, son of Alice of Armenia and Raymond IV of Antioch, overthrew Bohémond IV in 1216 with the support of his grand-uncle Levon I of Armenia. However, when Levon died three years later, Bohémond returned to power, forcing Raymond-Roupen - who had taken refuge in the citadel of Antioch - to flee to Cilicia after surrendering the fortress to the Hospitallers. In Cilicia, he claimed the vacant throne but was soon captured, along with his mother, in Tarsus by Constantine of Baberon, the regent for Queen Isabella, Levon's infant daughter and successor. Raymond-Roupen, an unlucky prince, died in Cilician captivity shortly thereafter, in either 1221 or 1222.
This specimen is unique for its unusual spelling of Raymond IV’s name on the obverse. Instead of the usual 'RVPINVZ', the inscription reads 'ROPINVS', a significantly altered form. The three known specimens were produced with different dies, making a typographical error unlikely.
