Crowned shield with the Lusignan coat of arms.
CAR[LOTA DI GRA RE] GNA Countermarks: the value 8 soldia; the control authority number 3; four circuferential circular seals with a pellet in centre.
Cross of Jerusalem
Worn inscription
*Michaelidou 2002, 255 & 260, III, fig. 6.
The king seated upon throne, holding sceptre in right hand and globus cruciger in left; on his left and fixed on the throne, shield. In left field, reversed S.
IAηVS[...] Countermarks: the value 8 soldia; the control authority number 3; four circuferential circular seals with a pellet in centre.
Cross of Jerusalem.
D'IERV[SALEM]
*Michaelidou 2002, 255 & 260, II, fig. 5.
The king seated upon throne, holding sceptre in right hand and globus cruciger in left.
[hUGUE] REI D Countermark: four double circumferential seals with the value 12 soldia.
IERVSALM ED ChIPRE
*Michaelidou 2002, 255 & 260, I, fig. 4.
Crowned shield with the emblems of the kingdom of Jerusalem, the Lusignans, the king of Armenia and the kingdom of Cyprus.
KA[TERIA D GR] IMP CP AR
IACOB[9 DGR] IRM CIP A T9
Countermarks: the value 8 soldia; the control authority number 1; four circuferential circular seals with a pellet in centre.
*Michaelidou 2002, 256 & 260, V, fig. 8.
Winged lion of St. Mark seated left, supporting the Gospel with front legs.
[P]RO REGNI CYPRI PRESSIDIO 1570
Cupid flying above the inscription.
V[E]NETORV FIDES INVIOL[AB]ILIS BISANTE I
Pitsillides 1976, 11-15; Michaelidou 2002, 258-262.
PRO REGNI CYPRI PRESSIDIO 1570
VENETORV FIDES INVIOLABILIS BISANTE I.
*Iacovou 1994, 73, no. 7; *BMC 1998, 203, no. 138; * Michaelidou 2002, 258 & 262, fig. 21.
VENETORV FIDES INVIOLABILIS BISANTE I F(?)
Pitsillides 1976, 11-15; Michaelidou 2002, 258-259 & 262.
VENETORV FIDES INVIOLABILIS BISANTE I F
*Iacovou 1994, 73, no. 8; *BMC 1998, 203, no. 139; *Michaelidou 2002, 258-259 & 262, fig. 22.
The Venetian period officially begins in 1489, when the Republic of Venice forced Catherine Cornaro to resign her titles and cede Cyprus to the Republic.
The Cyprus numismatic system was adapted to that of Venice. To standardize transactions, the Venetian administration countermarked all coins in circulation on the island, depending on the weight or the gold and silver content of each particular coin.
From 1515 until the end of Venetian rule, the Council of Ten minted small copper coins in Venice – known to the people as carzia – for circulation in Cyprus. The last coins minted by the Venetians on the island were the 1570 bronze bezants issued by the Venetian general-commander of Cyprus, Marcantonio Bragadin during the siege of Nicosia and Famagusta by the Ottomans. They were used as fiduciary money and were to be exchanged for silver after the war.
