Masterpiece Rare Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem Bronze Weight (5.55g)

Authenticity & Guarantee

• Provenance: Ex-private European collection, legally acquired from international sales; Levantine Crusader States / Kingdom of Jerusalem sphere.

Item Specifications

• Object: Cast Base-Metal Square Commercial / Coin Weight

• Culture / Period: Medieval Crusader States (Kingdom of Jerusalem / Outremer)

• Date Range: Circa 12th Century AD – 13th Century AD (c. 1099–1291 AD)

• Mass / Weight: 5.55 grams

• Exact Weight Class: Crusader Heavy Dirham / Half-Bezant Standard (~5.5g–5.6g bullion unit)

• Material: Heavy Cast Base-Metal Alloy Matrix (Plumbum-Bronze)

• Form & Epigraphy: Square tabular block with beveled edges; primary face features a deeply incised Latin Monogram Cross / Patriarchal Cross featuring a central vertical shaft integrated with ligatured letters (I-E-R-S / Jerusalem monogram variant); secondary face bears a matching incised cross alignment mark

• Condition: Exceptional, complete archaeological state. Sharp geometric square profile, deeply cut cross monogram, preserved under a rich dark olive-bronze patina with golden cuprite highlights and authentic desert-earthen burial deposits.

Historical Context & Kingdom of Jerusalem Lore

The Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem & Crusader Metrology

Following the First Crusade and the establishment of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099 AD), the military orders—including the Knights Templar and Hospitaller—regulated market commerce and pilgrim taxation across Outremer. Square weights stamped with Latin monograms and cross motifs were used by treasury officials and money-changers in Jerusalem, Acre, and Tyre to weigh gold bezants and silver deniers (Ref: Metcalf, Coinage of the Crusades and the Latin East in the Ashmolean Museum, Royal Numismatic Society, 1995; Malloy, Preston & Seltman, Coins of the Crusader States, Attic Books, 1994).

Monogram Cross Architecture (Crux Grammatica)

The deeply engraved symbol combines the Latin Cross with ligatured monogram lettering incorporated directly into the cross shaft. This distinctive marking served as an official mint verification mark, guaranteeing the 5.55-gram weight standard for official financial transactions across Templar commanderies and Crusader ports.

Typological Analysis & Exact Classification

Exact Typological Classification

• Primary Class: Crusader Square Tabular Trade Weight

• Sub-Class: Monogram Cross / Ligatured Patriarchal Cross Type (Jerusalem Heavy Dirham / Fractional Bezant Class)

Comparable Archaeological Examples & Museum Accession Numbers

• Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA Collection): Crusader period square bronze weight with incised Latin cross monogram from the Old City of Jerusalem.

• British Museum (Accession No. 1980,1001.22): 12th–13th century Crusader States bronze weight with incised cross marking.

• Ashmolean Museum (Accession No. AN1972.108): Outremer Crusader bronze coin weight with monogram cross.

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