Obolos 13

CRUSADERS. Beyliks of Western Asia Minor. After 1348. Ducat (Gold, 22 mm, 3.44 g, 7 h), late 'K' Series, imitating the Venetian ducats of Andrea Dantolo, (1344-1354). ANDR DANDVLO• - S M VENET /DVX Doge kneeling left, grasping long, cross-tipped scepter handed to him by St. Mark, standing right before him. Rev. •SIT T XPE DATOTV - K SIS ISTE DVCAT Christ standing facing in mandorla with nine stars. Gamberini 344 (under Robert d'Anzou). Ives pl. XIII. CNI VII 37 (under Venetians in the Levant). Lambros-Clarence 89-95 (under Robert d'Anzou). Mazarakis (Lanz) 707. Mazarakis, Beyliks, Group I. A rare early example struck in debased gold. Obverse somewhat rough, otherwise, good very fine.

From the A.T. Collection, acquired possibly in the 70s.

The 'K' Series ducats, named after the letter K located in reverse inscription, near Jesus's feet, were struck in the area of Asia Minor, possibly Smyrna prior to 1435 (based on hoard evidence). Mazarakis Group I is a controversial group where many fluctuations in the purity of the gold have been noted, ranging between 30% and 80%. According to Mazarakis these are the first gold coins of the post-Seljuk beyliks of western Asia Minor. In contrast to what it was supported until now, the first group with the debased gold Ducats was followed by a more pure and carefully struck Group II also imitating mainly the ducats of Andrea Dantolo. In any case this early group seems to be really rare as proven by the limited number of dies used and possibly many coins were intentionally removed from the circulation.