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IMC 2019: Sessions

Session 1219: Coins in Medieval Material Culture, III: The Latin East

Wednesday 3 July 2019, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:Medieval European Coinage Project, Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge
Organiser:James Todesca, Department of History, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Georgia
Moderator/Chair:Elina Screen, Trinity College, University of Oxford
Paper 1219-aEvaluating Crusader Hoards: The Case of the Harenc Hoard
(Language: English)
Marcus Phillips, Independent Scholar, Biggleswade
Index terms: Crusades, Numismatics
Paper 1219-bMoney, Materiality, and Occupation: Copper Coins of the Northern Crusader States
(Language: English)
Richard Kelleher, Department of Coins & Medals, Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge
Index terms: Archaeology - Artefacts, Crusades, Economics - Trade, Numismatics
Abstract

Raymond of Aguilers famously remarked that the armies of the First Crusade brought with them seven types of silver-based denarii which quickly began to circulate alongside Muslim gold dinars. From the beginning then European settlers and merchants in the Middle East adopted to a hybrid monetary system based on Latin, Muslim, and Byzantine traditions. The various crusader states eventually struck Latin denarii alongside Byzantine-style copper folles and imitative dinars as well as dirhams. By examining the large number of coin finds known today, these two papers bring to light the complexities of daily exchange among the inhabitants of the medieval Latin East.