Newp- Philip IV And The Knights Of Templar

I scored this off the 'bay a while ago and arrived today, a large medieval coin called a Gros Tournois. A silver coin invented by St. Louis appropriated from the Islamic coins of the day and modeled on the Grande Gros of Bohemond of Tripoli.

These coins were minted in Tours, France between AD 1304 and 1307, although other variations, imitations and issues were minted until the end of the hammered coin in the mid 16th century.

Philip IV The Fair, deeply indebted to the Knights of Templar, he convinced Pope Clement to dissolve the order. This comes along with the loss of the last Christian strongholds in the Holy land and Armenia and general lack of support for Crusades.

In France the Knights of Templar where a military order originally assigned to protect pilgrims on route to the Holy land, but by this time they had become an economic power house trading goods across the Mediterranean sea and had huge financial holdings throughout Europe. The knights sought to establish their own state similar to that of the Teutons who had founded the nation of Prussia.

Philip certainly did not want a state existing inside of his kingdom and decided that all lands and money should be transferred to the Papacy and Philip IV. Subsequently, the vast wealth was never found and most of the Templar knights were arrested, condemned as Heretics and burned at the stake.

So actually think the Templars made it to North America and established a settlement. This settlement has never been found and it is unlikely 14th century Templar ships could have made the voyage. The Ships designed with a shallow draft and sail, suggesting only coastal transit could be safely achieved. It is possible an attempt at exploration was made but most likely failed, and they never made it to North America.


Kingdom of France
Tours, France
Philip IV The Fair "le Bel" (r. AD 1268-1314)
AR Gros Tournois 25 mm x 4.00 grams (s. AD 1304-1307)
Obverse: +BHDICTV SIT HOME DHI nRI DEI IhV .XPI/ +PhILIPPVS REX, short cross pattee; 3-pellet stops.
Reverse: +TVRONVS CIVIS, châtel tournois; border of twelve fleur-de-lis, pellets flanking first lis.
Ref: Duplessy 213; Ciani 201; Roberts 2463.
Note: Awesome coin.