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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,419 |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
I received an excellent group of coins yesterday from Kevin. In that group where several of these little gems. While not a true ancient coin, Bela had ties with the Byzantine empire Bela III King of Hungray 1172-1196 Bela is associated with the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Comnenus who had Bela sent to Constantinople to be educated. Manuel had no son and intended that Bela become his heir, Manuel even agganged that he marry his daughter Maria Comnena. Bela was given the Greek name of Alexius. However Manuel late had a son with his second wife Maria of Antioch, Alexius II Comnenus. Because of this Bela was pushed aside and Alexius II became heir. The marriage to Maria Comnena was also cancelled, though Manuel did aggarge for him to marry Agnes of Antioch the daughter of Raynald of Chatillon and half sister of Maria. Bela succeeded his brother Stephen III as king of Hungray. Here are two of the same coin, one is struck flat and the other is struck as a cup coin.   AE 26mm Bela III Obverse: Bela and St Stephen Seated BELA REX Reverse: Virgin Mary MARIA SANCTA 2.6 grams 26 mm struck flat Reference: Huszar 072   The only difference between this one is that it is struck as a cup coin. And it's 25 mm x 1.8 grams |
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
I like this topic very much!  Thank you!  He was a powerful ruler, and his court was counted among the most brilliant in Europe! This is the only cup coin from Hungary! |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very interesting history about this Kingdom.
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
I live very near the town (Esztergom), where he born. This city was the capital city of Hungary that time, so this coin was probably minted here!  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Are these coins fairly common to find in your country?
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Valued Member
200 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
513 Posts |
It's really amazing how US schools totally skip over Eastern Europe. You study Egypt and Greece a bit, then Rome, then suddenly the Renaissance happens and you're like 'wait what happened the last 1000 years?' They say 'the dark ages' and you kind of move on. I really had no appreciation for Byzantine or in general Eastern European history until very very recently when I started listening to some podcasts about them. It's as interesting a time and place as any and I wish more people would learn about it.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4980 Posts |
bela iii coins are very cool, nice ski. the flat one is interesting as well....I've seen a few of those, but for some reason I thought they were smushed scyphate coin. here mine!   |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
Chuy, like you I never really paid too much time to the study of Eastern European history. It's funny because I'm half Polish and never took the time to learn about it's history. From collecting Byzantine coins I've learned how it influenced several of these countries, along with how the Ottomam empire struggled to take control over them but was not able to.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I really like these coins a lot. I don't have, but that will change I am sure.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Nice coins echizento. I have developed an interest in medieval and in particular eastern european medieval coins myself recently. Will try and get around to posting some ..
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,419 |
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Posted 05/15/2014 1:49 pm
