Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 470 17 Jun 2020
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CRUSADERS, Edessa. Joscelin I de Courtenay (?). 1119-1131. Æ Follis (24mm, 3.40 g, 6h). Crowned and nimbate facing bust / Cross-crosslet on step; uncertain legend around. Metcalf, Crusades –; CCS –; cf. Pesant, "Three Additional Folles Presumably of Joscelyn of Edessa," NumCirc 1992, p. 302-303 (for similar types); CNG 69, lot 1936. Rough brown surfaces. Good Fine. Very rare.
This coin clearly belongs to the same series published by R. Pesant in several articles in NumCirc. Pesant's pieces have a similar facing bust, with reverse featuring a small cross in circle surrounded by an untranslated legend. He tried to interpret the legend as a corrupt Latin reference to Joscelyn of Edessa, but this identification is not universally accepted. The legends on this type are clearly not Latin. While some of the letter forms do resemble Syriac, no coherent translation seems possible at the present time.
This coin clearly belongs to the same series published by R. Pesant in several articles in NumCirc. Pesant's pieces have a similar facing bust, with reverse featuring a small cross in circle surrounded by an untranslated legend. He tried to interpret the legend as a corrupt Latin reference to Joscelyn of Edessa, but this identification is not universally accepted. The legends on this type are clearly not Latin. While some of the letter forms do resemble Syriac, no coherent translation seems possible at the present time.