Illustrated Specimen Details: Copper Tank
Example Specimen: Tank, 1198-1219 (Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia)
Authority & Heraldry: Issued during the reign of Levon I (known historically as Leo II), the tenth lord of Armenian Cilicia and the first to be crowned King (1198 to 1219). Under his leadership, Cilician Armenia reached its political and cultural zenith. The obverse features a portrait of the monarch depicted as a crowned lion, while the reverse displays a patriarchal cross flanked by two stars. The inscription ՇԻՆԵԱԼ Ի ՔԱՂԱՔՍ Ի ՍԻՍ (Struck in the city of Sis) identifies the minting location, and the legend ԼԵԻՈՆ ԹԱԳԱԻՈՐ ՀԱՅՈՑ (Levon, King of the Armenians) confirms the royal authority.
Denomination: Tank
Date: 1198-1219 (Leo II)
Metal: Copper
Weight: 6.86 g | Diameter: 29 mm
Mint: Sis
Estimated value: 25$
DENOMINATION GUIDE — WHERE & WHEN (world coins catalog by names and emitents)
The name "Tank" designates a significant copper denomination of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, minted from the late 12th century through the second half of the 13th century. Numismatic analysis of surviving specimens indicates a standard weight ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 grams. In the local monetary hierarchy, five tanks (or ten kardez) were traditionally valued at one silver tram. The design evolved over time; while the early type (1198 to 1219) features the crowned lion, the second type issued under Hethum I (1226-1270) depicts the king seated on a throne holding royal attributes (scepter and globus cruciger). The term itself is linguistically connected to a broader Eurasian family of monetary names, such as the Indian "tanka" or "taka", all stemming from regional words for "money".
History and Significance
The tank played a crucial role as a medium of exchange for everyday marketplace transactions in the Cilician Armenian economy. Positioned as a fractional unit of the main silver currency, the tram, it facilitated trade between local artisans, merchants, and international travelers navigating the crossroads of the Mediterranean.
Monetary System and Circulation
The Cilician monetary system was highly sophisticated for the medieval period, successfully integrating Armenian traditions with Byzantine and Crusader influences. The tank, being a copper denomination, was designed for high-velocity local circulation. By fixing the exchange rate of one tank to exactly two kardez, the state ensured price stability across its diverse commercial centers, most notably the capital city of Sis (modern-day Kozan, Turkey).
Numismatic Legacy
Today, collectors value the tank not only for its historical connection to the Crusader era and the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia but also for its distinct iconography. The imagery — ranging from the royal lion to the patriarchal cross — serves as a testament to the state’s dual identity as a Christian bastion and a commercial hub in the Near East. Despite their role as small-denomination coinage, these pieces are relatively scarce and offer a unique perspective into the economic administration of medieval Armenia.