Sale: CNG 76, Lot: 1719. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2007.  Sold For $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CRUSADERS, Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus. Louis of Savoy. 1459-1482. AR Gros (25mm, 3.48 g, 11h). Type D. Nicosia mint. Struck 1459-1461. +LuDOuICuS DEI GRACIA • REX, Louis enthroned facing, holding lis-tipped scepter and globus cruciger; at feet to right, coat-of-arms / +IERuSALm CIPRI ET ARmI, Cross of Jerusalem. M&P pl. 19, 13 (same obv. die); Metcalf, Crusades -; CCS 148. Good VF, toned, slight double strike. Rare.

Ex Alistair Lilburn Collection; Stavrokonnou Hoard (1947).

Louis of Savoy became king of Cyprus through his marriage to Queen Charlotte in October 1459. The following year, James usurped power. By the beginning of 1461, the effective authority of Louis and Charlotte was restricted to the castle of Kyrenia. Although Charlotte did attempt to retake control of the country, she was unable to do so, leaving Cyprus by May of that year, with Louis following close behind, never to return.