Lot 3727

Description

Cyprus, under Venetian rule (1489-1571), billon carzie under doge Girulamo Priuli (1559-1567), billon seizin under doge Petro Loredan (1567-1570) and AE Famagusta siege coin dated 1570. Very fine or better, scarce and a very interesting lot. (3)

The seige of Famagusta by the Turks saw the minting of a large copper coin to pass as a bezant. This was the last coin struck on the island and the last Cypriot coin till the modern coinage under Queen Victoria, in 1879.(ref: Collect Cyprus Coins, by T. J. Fitikedes, where the story of the siege is given [pp.6]).