rusader States Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem 1150AD Baldwin III Denier Genuine Crusader Silver Coin Certified Authentic

Authentic Medieval Crusader Coin – Guaranteed Genuine

Kingdom: Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
Ruler: Baldwin III
Date: 1150AD
Mint: Jerusalem
Denomination: BI Denier (billon)
Diameter: 17.4 mm
Weight: 0.93 g
Die Axis: 4 h
Reference: Metcalf lettering series 3c, 153; CCS 10
Condition: Very Fine, areas of flatness, anciently holed

Obverse:
BALDVINVS REX – “Baldwin King.” Cross pattée with straight X arms ending in annulets; distinctive crude lettering with elongated forms and terminal strokes touching, characteristic of the so-called rough series.

Reverse:

• DE IERVSALEM – “Of Jerusalem.” Stylized Tower of David, the principal citadel of Jerusalem, rendered in simplified architectural form.

Description:
A billon denier struck at Jerusalem during the reign of Baldwin III (1142–1163), one of the most important rulers of the Latin Kingdom. Baldwin III consolidated Crusader control in the Levant and successfully captured Ascalon in 1153, strengthening the kingdom’s southern frontier.

The reverse depicts the Tower of David, symbol of the Holy City and its Christian kingship. These deniers were the everyday currency of pilgrims, merchants, and knights traveling to and from the sacred sites of Jerusalem.

Ancient Hole – Pilgrimage or Devotional Use:
This specimen has been carefully pierced in antiquity. Holed Crusader deniers are frequently encountered and are widely understood to have been converted into devotional pendants or pilgrimage tokens. Pilgrims to the Holy Sepulchre often carried small coins of Jerusalem as tangible relics of their journey to the Holy Land. The hole allowed the coin to be suspended from a cord or sewn into garments, worn close to the body as a sign of faith and protection. The piercing is consistent with medieval workmanship and is not a modern alteration.

Such devotional adaptations add a powerful layer of historical context, transforming the coin from simple currency into a personal object of Crusader-era piety.

Condition:
Very Fine with areas of flatness typical of the crude “rough” series. Legends partially visible. Ancient piercing as described. Fully guaranteed authentic Crusader issue.