The Coins of Cilician King Levon I the Great

The coins of Levon I the Great, a King of Cilicia Armenia from the Rubenid dynasty who reigned from 1187 to 1219, were in use in Western Europe and even beyond. Minted during his reign, gold and silver coins with engraved Latin inscriptions became the most famous and preferred currency in international markets.

During the reign of Levon the Great, the borders of Cilicia were greatly expanded. Levon repaired ancient fortresses and built new ones, created a permanent powerful army, in the likeness of the armies of Europe approved law and order in military training, adjusted the activities of various departments under the royal court, improved the economy, concluded profitable trade agreements (1211, 1212) with Venice, Pisa, Genoa, and other cities and countries, built a merchant fleet, as well as founded gymnasiums and colleges teaching Armenian and foreign languages.

Levon the Great also created privileged conditions for scholars and artists at his court. During his reign, numerous ancient valuable manuscripts were saved, acquired, copied, and translated into Armenian.

Ruben Shukhyan