Medieval Balkans

This next specimen is a billon Denier from the DESPOTATE OF EPIRUS 1294-1313 AD. It was issued during the rule of Despot: Philip de Taranto. These were Frankish coins that were circulated in the region that is now part of northwestern Greece and Albania.



EPIRUS (DESPOTATE)~Billon Denier 1294-1313 AD

Here are two coins from the islands of RHODES under the Order of the Knights of St. John. The first is a silver Gigliato issued under Grandmaster: Juan Fernandez de Heredia 1376-1396 AD. This was overstruck on a coin issued by the previous grandmaster Robert d'Anjou. The second is silver Gigliato issued under Grandmaster: Philabert de Naillac 1396-1421 AD. The Knights of St. John were assigned to protect Rhodes, during the crusades, from the Ottoman Empire which had threatened Southeastern Europe. It's operation in Rhodes ran from 1310-1523. Later they were stationed in Malta from 1530-1798.



RHODES~AR Gigliato 1376-1396 AD



RHODES~AR Gigliato 1396-1421 AD

Those "BANATE OF SLAVONIA" coins made me think of modern Croatian kunas:


Do you think I'm right?

Wow, this is a fascinating and informative thread--thanks for posting these coins and their histories!

Thanks 'DVCollector' and 'Archraz'. This is very interesting area to collect. And some of them have very interesting stories behind them. I'll post more images as I aquire them.

~Daniel