This sterling silver pendant is set with a medieval Armenian bronze coin minted by crusader king Smpad 1296-1298 CE.

Denomination: Kardez Date: 12th Century CE

Advantages: This pendant is completely unisex and could appeal to anyone from a student to a history buff, to people that love antiques, to anyone who appreciates beauty and historic events. This pendant makes for a great conversation piece as well as meaningful gift.

The jewelry made in the US.
The piece comes with Certificate of Authenticity of the Coin.
Workmanship is guaranteed.

Jewelry Maintenance:
1. Avoid chemicals. Do not wear to hot tubs or sea.
2. To clean use a silver cloth on the silver and avoid the coin. Absolutely NO JEWELRY CLEANERS!
3. Best preserved in ziplock bag when not worn.

Armenia was so closely associated with the crusader states that it can be properly considered with them. Christianity had been the state religion since King Tiridates III was converted by Gregory the Iluminator in 301 AD. At that time Tiridates declared Christianity as the national religion, the first country in the world to do so, some 20 years before Constantine the Great did the same for the Roman Empire.

As with many Central European countries, Armenia has had a long history of devout Christian faith actually left the native area, and founded a new nation near the Mediterranean Sea, called “Lesser Armenia.” Geographic proximity brought “Lesser Armenia” into close contact and influence with the crusader and Europe. Western ideas, social structure, language, and art were adopted and flourished. This was considered the “golden age of Armenian illumination.”