{"product_id":"manuel-i-comnenus-billon-trachy-crowned-by-the-virgin-mary-1","title":"Alexios III Bronze Trachy — Struck Just Before the Fall of Constantinople to the Fourth Crusade","description":"\u003ch1 class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\n\u003cspan role=\"text\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlexios III Bronze Trachy — Christ, St. Constantine \u0026amp; the Last Years of Byzantium\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOwn a Coin from the Final Years Before the Fourth Crusade\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA real Byzantine billon trachy of Emperor Alexios III Angelos, struck in Constantinople during the final years before the Crusaders forever changed the Byzantine Empire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✓ Guaranteed Authentic\u003cbr\u003e✓ Exact Coin Shown\u003cbr\u003e✓ 30-Day Returns\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e⛪ Features Jesus Christ and St. Constantine, founder of Constantinople\u003cbr\u003e🏛 Struck in Constantinople during the empire's final years before the Fourth Crusade\u003cbr\u003e🤲 The exact historic coin pictured is the one you'll receive\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOwn This Piece of History\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy This Coin Matters\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis authentic \u003cstrong\u003ebillon aspron trachy\u003c\/strong\u003e was struck during the reign of \u003cstrong\u003eAlexios III Angelos (AD 1195–1203)\u003c\/strong\u003e, one of the last emperors to rule Constantinople before the arrival of the Fourth Crusade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse features a facing bust of \u003cstrong\u003eJesus Christ\u003c\/strong\u003e, shown with a cross-shaped halo, raising His hand in blessing while holding a scroll. Surrounding Him is the Greek prayer \u003cstrong\u003e\"Lord, help\"\u003c\/strong\u003e (\u003cem\u003eΚΕ ΒΟΗΘΕΙ\u003c\/em\u003e), emphasizing Christ as the protector of the empire. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse depicts \u003cstrong\u003eAlexios III\u003c\/strong\u003e standing beside \u003cstrong\u003eSt. Constantine the Great\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Roman emperor who founded Constantinople in AD 330. Together they hold the symbols of imperial authority, visually linking Alexios with the founder of the Byzantine capital and reinforcing the idea that the emperor ruled under God's protection. \u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet history took a different course.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnly a few years after coins like this entered circulation, the \u003cstrong\u003eFourth Crusade\u003c\/strong\u003e turned against Constantinople. In \u003cstrong\u003eAD 1204\u003c\/strong\u003e, Crusader armies captured and sacked the greatest city in Christendom, bringing an end to more than eight centuries of uninterrupted Byzantine rule from Constantinople. This coin was among the last issues struck before that world-changing event.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts distinctive \u003cstrong\u003ecup-shaped (scyphate)\u003c\/strong\u003e form is one of the defining features of late Byzantine coinage, making it instantly recognizable to collectors today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePerfect For\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst-time Byzantine coin collectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrusades history enthusiasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChristian history collectors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMedieval history lovers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone looking for a meaningful, unique gift\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat You'll Receive\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe exact Alexios III billon trachy pictured\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStruck at the \u003cstrong\u003eConstantinople Mint\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSear Byzantine 2012\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGenuine concave (\"cup-shaped\") Byzantine coin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed authentic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBuy with Confidence\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuaranteed authentic ancient 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\n\u003ch2\u003eNew to Ancient Coins?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart your journey here:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ekinzercoins.com\/collections\/im-new-to-ancient-coins\u003c\/strong\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\/20240815093711_202607-Photoroom.jpg?v=1786236936","url":"https:\/\/kinzercoins.com\/products\/manuel-i-comnenus-billon-trachy-crowned-by-the-virgin-mary-1","provider":"Kinzer Coins","version":"1.0","type":"link"}