Levon I “The Magnificent” – King of Armenia – Crusader AE Coin (AD 1198) NGC Certified

Own a certified bronze coin of Levon I “The Magnificent”, King of Armenian Cilicia, struck in the early Crusader period and authenticated by NGC. This powerful piece commemorates the coronation of one of the most influential Christian monarchs of the medieval Near East.

On January 6, 1198, Levon I was crowned king, officially establishing the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, a vital Christian stronghold on the frontier between East and West. Known to Western Crusaders as Leo, he was a central figure during the Third Crusade, forging close alliances with both the Papacy and European nobility. His reign marked the beginning of nearly two centuries of Christian Armenian rule in a region surrounded by powerful Islamic empires.

The obverse of this coin depicts King Levon seated on an ornate lion-backed throne, wearing a crown, holding a cross and a fleur-de-lis — symbols of his dual authority and religious legitimacy. His feet rest on a footstool, a subtle nod to Byzantine imperial iconography.

The reverse features two lions back to back, flanking a two-barred patriarchal cross — a design that combines Armenian Christian symbolism with Western Crusader influence. The cross represents both Levon’s faith and his kingdom’s role as a bastion of Christianity in the Levant.

Certified by NGC, this Crusader-era coin offers collectors a tangible link to a legendary king, a proud Armenian kingdom, and one of the most dramatic periods of religious and political transformation in medieval history.