{"product_id":"alexios-iii-angelos-byzantine-bronze-trachy-ad-1195-1203","title":"Alexios III Angelos Ancient Byzantine Bronze Trachy — Before the Fourth Crusade (AD 1195–1203)","description":"\u003ch1\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlexios III Angelos Byzantine Trachy — Constantinople Before the Fourth Crusade\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOwn a Coin from the Reign Immediately Before the Crisis of 1203–1204\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe exact \u003cstrong\u003eByzantine trachy of Alexios III Angelos\u003c\/strong\u003e shown, issued at Constantinople during his reign from \u003cstrong\u003eAD 1195–1203\u003c\/strong\u003e, immediately before the Fourth Crusade overturned the imperial government and ultimately captured the capital.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e✓ Guaranteed Authentic\u003cbr\u003e✓ Exact Coin Shown\u003cbr\u003e✓ 30-Day Returns\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy This Coin Matters\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlexios III Angelos\u003c\/strong\u003e seized the Byzantine throne in 1195 and ruled until 1203. His reign ended when the forces of the Fourth Crusade reached Constantinople while supporting the claim of Alexios IV Angelos. Alexios III fled the capital in July 1203.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Crusaders did \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c\/strong\u003e sack Constantinople during Alexios III’s reign. The famous capture and sack occurred the following year, in \u003cstrong\u003eApril 1204\u003c\/strong\u003e, after a further political crisis in the city. This coin is therefore best described as money from the imperial reign immediately preceding that catastrophe—not as a coin struck during the sack itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLate Byzantine trachea are instantly recognizable for their concave, cup-shaped form. Issues of Alexios III commonly use sacred and imperial imagery that tied the emperor to the Christian Roman tradition and to Constantinople’s long imperial past.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBecause this specimen was issued in the capital under the emperor whose overthrow became an early stage of the Fourth Crusade’s intervention in Byzantine politics, it offers a particularly direct numismatic connection to the world immediately before 1204.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat cannot be known is whether this individual coin remained in Constantinople through the siege and sack. Its historical importance rests on its secure attribution to \u003cstrong\u003eAlexios III’s Constantinopolitan coinage\u003c\/strong\u003e and its place in the chronology leading to the Fourth Crusade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhat You’ll Receive\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe exact Alexios III trachy pictured\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCivilization:\u003c\/strong\u003e Byzantine Empire \/ Eastern Roman Empire\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRuler:\u003c\/strong\u003e Alexios III Angelos\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReign:\u003c\/strong\u003e AD 1195–1203\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMint:\u003c\/strong\u003e Constantinople\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDenomination:\u003c\/strong\u003e Trachy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eForm:\u003c\/strong\u003e Concave \/ cup-shaped\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed authentic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePerfect For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eByzantine history collectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrusades history enthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors interested in Constantinople\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst-time medieval coin collectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone interested in the events leading to 1204\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBuy with Confidence\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed authentic medieval coin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCarefully sourced and attributed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e30-day return policy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSecure shipping from the U.S.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNew to Ancient Coins?\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eStart your journey with our beginner-friendly ancient and medieval coin collection and guides.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\u003ch2\u003eLearn More\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/kinzer-coins-journal\/why-are-byzantine-coins-cup-shaped-the-strange-history-of-the-trachy\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0970\/6202\/7570\/articles\/byzantine-trachy-cup-shaped-featured-wide.png?v=1788637781\" alt=\"Why Are Byzantine Coins Cup-Shaped? The Strange History of the Trachy\" style=\"max-width:100%;height:auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContinue the story in the Kinzer Coins Journal: \u003ca href=\"\/blogs\/kinzer-coins-journal\/why-are-byzantine-coins-cup-shaped-the-strange-history-of-the-trachy\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy Are Byzantine Coins Cup-Shaped? The Strange History of the Trachy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kinzer Coins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51554392408370,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0970\/6202\/7570\/files\/alexios-iii-bronze-trachy-struck-just-before-the-fall-of-constantinople-to-the-fourth-crusadebyzantine-coins-7726342.jpg?v=1786295409","url":"https:\/\/kinzercoins.com\/products\/alexios-iii-angelos-byzantine-bronze-trachy-ad-1195-1203","provider":"Kinzer Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}