Kingdom of Jerusalem Pendant | Baldwin III of Jerusalem

Coin: Silver Denier
Obverse: Inscription "BALD[VI]NVUS: REX" (King Baldwin) around cross 
Reverse:  Tower of David with Annulments at the top corners
Date: 1143-1163 A.D.
Bezel: 14k Gold
Weight:  3.01 grams
Diameter: 20 cm / .78 in

Description

This item is an authentic crusader state coin, placed in a handmade bezel of 14k gold. There is only 1 of this item; you will receive the exact pendant shown in the photos.  

Chain necklaces can be purchased separately through this link.

History of the Artifact

Silver deniers of this type were struck between 1143 and 1163 A.D. under the reign of King Baldwin III of Jerusalem, during the height of the Crusader Kingdom in the Holy Land. The obverse bears the inscription BALD[VI]NVUS REX surrounding a simple cross — a potent emblem of both Christian faith and royal authority. This was not merely a symbol of religion, but a statement of legitimacy for a monarch ruling a distant Christian realm surrounded by powerful Islamic states. The denier’s clean, functional design reflects the practical nature of Crusader coinage, which had to be trusted in trade across a multicultural, multilingual society of pilgrims, knights, and merchants.

The reverse shows the Tower of David, a stylized representation of Jerusalem’s ancient citadel, with small circular annulments at its top corners. This architectural motif embodied the strength and sanctity of the city itself — the spiritual and political heart of the Crusader Kingdom. Struck in fine silver and modeled after Western European deniers, these coins bridged the worlds of Latin Christendom and the Eastern Mediterranean. They circulated widely among Crusaders and locals alike, serving both as currency and as enduring symbols of the fragile yet determined Christian presence in the Holy Land during the twelfth century.

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

You will receive the exact coin pendant which is shown in the photos.

Silver deniers bearing the name of King Baldwin come from the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, one of the Latin states established in the Levant following the First Crusade. These coins were minted in Jerusalem itself, likely in the royal mint located near the Tower of David, whose image appears on the reverse. The issues belong to the reign of Baldwin III (1143–1163 A.D.), a period when the kingdom was relatively stable and prosperous, with trade and pilgrimage routes connecting the Holy City to Europe, Byzantium, and surrounding Islamic territories.

Many examples have been found in the soil of Israel, Palestine, and surrounding Crusader strongholds, often recovered from hoards buried during periods of siege or political turmoil. Because they were made of silver, they have survived well despite centuries underground, their inscriptions and crosses often still clear. Modern specimens typically come from archaeological excavations or reputable European and Middle Eastern dealers who specialize in medieval and Crusader coinage. Each denier stands as a direct link to the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem — a small but resilient Christian realm whose rulers struck their own coinage in the shadow of the ancient walls they sought to defend.