Cilician Armenia Takvorin (1320-1341): History and Value

Illustrated Specimen Details: Hammered Silver Takvorin

Example Specimen: Takvorin, 1320-1341 (Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia)

Authority & Identification: This hammered silver piece is a classical medieval takvorin struck under the authority of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Undated by design, it was issued during the reign of Levon IV (also documented as Leo IV or Leo V), the final Hethumid king who governed the realm from 1320-1341. The obverse displays the traditional royal iconography of a crowned king riding on horseback with a scepter in his hand, accompanied by a cross placed above him. This image is encircled by the abbreviated Armenian legend "ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ", which translates directly to "Levon King of the Armenians". The reverse prominently features a walking lion positioned beneath a cross, surrounded by the inscription "ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՆ Ի ՍԻՍ", confirming the coin was minted in the royal capital city of Sis (located near the modern Turkish town of Kozan).

1. ARMENIAN KINGDOM OF CILICIA (1301-1373): takvorin = 40 pogh = 10 kardez

TAKVORIN as a coin name. The takvorin (frequently transliterated as tagvorin) served as the principal silver denomination of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, minted extensively between 1301-1373. It was purposely introduced into the economy to replace the heavier, earlier Armenian tram in daily circulation. Within the structured medieval fractional system, one silver takvorin held the value of exactly 10 copper kardez coins or 40 copper pogh pieces. Etymologically, the name derives directly from the Armenian word "tagavor", which translates to "king", thereby classifying the denomination as the literal "royal coin" of the state. Despite fluctuating planchet weights that ranged anywhere between 2 and 3 grams depending on the exact year of production, the coin's fundamental visual features — the mounted ruler and the royal lion — remained strictly standardized across more than seven decades of minting.

History and Economic Role of the Armenian Takvorin

Monetary Transition in Medieval Cilicia

The introduction of the silver takvorin around 1301 marked a pivotal adjustment in the financial architecture of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. Transitioning away from the older tram standard, this slightly lighter silver currency was strategically designed to facilitate both robust domestic commerce and the highly lucrative international trade moving through the Mediterranean Levant. Operating flawlessly alongside its lesser fractional copper companions, the takvorin functioned as the undisputed backbone of the national monetary system for over seventy years. It provided a reliable, universally recognized medium of exchange utilized by elite merchants, foreign traders, and everyday citizens navigating the bustling markets of the royal capital of Sis.

Design Continuity and Royal Symbolism

Unlike many contemporary medieval European currencies that drastically altered their appearance with every shifting political regime, the takvorin maintained an exceptionally cohesive visual identity throughout its entire lifespan. The obverse constantly promoted the reigning monarch crowned and confidently mounted on horseback, wielding a scepter as a divine symbol of undisputed terrestrial authority. The reverse consistently displayed a walking lion placed deliberately beneath a prominent cross, powerfully intertwining the fierce martial spirit of the royal dynasty with the deep-rooted Christian faith of the Armenian people. Even as the crown passed between various rulers — including Levon III, Oshin, Levon IV, and successive kings named Constantine — the core iconographic message of the "royal coin" remained visually unbroken until the kingdom's final collapse during the 1373-1375 period.

Numismatic Scarcity and Collector Appeal

In the sphere of modern medieval numismatics, the takvorin stands as one of the most recognizable and frequently collected historical coins of ancient Armenia. Because the royal mint at Sis struck these pieces in massive quantities to sustain a thriving mercantile economy, they are not classified as exceptionally rare today. However, securing high-quality, fully intact specimens represents a notable challenge. The manual hammering process often resulted in off-center strikes, planchet irregularities, and incomplete edge details. Specialized collectors carefully study the complex, heavily abbreviated Armenian legends to accurately identify the specific monarch responsible for the issue, making each takvorin a fascinating, tangible link to the sophisticated commercial legacy of the Cilician kingdom.