Մայքըլ Դենիս Օ'հարա2026-01-212026-01-212012Դենիս Օ'հարա, Մ., «Ռուբինեան ԺԲ. դարավերջի խնդրայարոյց դանգ մը եւ անոր վերածնունդի ոճով առեղծուածային դիմանկարը», «Հայկազեան հայագիտական հանդէս», 2012, Պէյրութ, էջ 185-207https://haigrepository.haigazian.edu.lb/handle/123456789/1080The study is about a controversial coin and is prepared to serve as a model for future issues. The coin, of which eight examples are known to the writer (five struck in copper, one in silver, and two in lead), was struck ca. 1197 and attributed to Baron Levon II of Cilicia, The coin dies were probably engraved by non-Armenian die-cutters in the mint of Tarsus. Some of the letters are in Armenian, but there are letters resembling Latin and Greek. Generally, the coin is badly struck similar to Roupenian baronial coinage. The author tried to reconstruct the legend using pictures of all eight examples. The subject coin served as a prototype or a source of inspiration for the copper tank of King Levon 1, struck in the mint of Sis. However, the Sis tank depicts a 'lconine" obverse; here the profile of Levon is reminiscent of a Renaissance style portrait. The author brings forth several arguments on the authenticity of this coin, like the presence of 'compass' lines visible on the copper pieces, the Armenian lettering, the double struck coins (one in copper and one in lead). The study sheds light on the mint practices in the Baronial period of Roupenian Armenia. It provides a new reverse type as evidence that the mint of Tarsus could have been in operation from as early as 1197 and raises a question about the depiction of a stunning and possibly characterized portrait bust of Levon I, which in its conception would seem to be hundreds of years before its time.