Crusader Ring
This bespoke ring features a silver denier struck in Jerusalem during the reign of Baldwin III, King of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1143 to 1163. He became king at just 13 years old, ruling initially alongside his mother, Queen Melisende, an exceptionally powerful and influential figure in the Crusader world. Melisende had already governed the kingdom with distinction and was widely respected for her political intelligence and strength. Their joint reign was marked by tension, but when Baldwin eventually asserted sole authority, he did so with restraint and honour, allowing his mother to retain her royal dignity and political influence.
Handcrafted as a unique commission, this bespoke piece is sculpted in 8.76 grams of 18k yellow gold. The medieval coin, graded very fine, is set in a smooth bezel, its historical character beautifully preserved. The coin’s distinctive cross pattée is echoed in a rhythmic sequence of openwork crosses encircling the band beneath. This architectural detail introduces lightness and air into the design—an elegant play between solidity and negative space, past and present.
The coin itself bears ✠BALDVINVS⁝REX with a central cross pattée on one side, and ✠DE bIERVSALEH⁝ on the other, surrounding a stylised tower—symbolising Jerusalem, the spiritual and political heart of the Crusader kingdom. Baldwin’s reign was marked by a moment of stability and strategic success, including the 1153 capture of Ascalon, a key coastal stronghold.
A one-of-a-kind creation, this ring is a tribute to a king and his mother Melisende, a queen whose power and presence shaped the history of the Latin East. Their intertwined story is one of youthful rule, maternal strength, and political finesse, etched forever into the silver and gold. A one-of-a-kind creation, the Crusader Ring pays tribute to a king and a queen whose intertwined story shaped the Latin East. Its custodian, drawn to the sculptural form of the She-Wolf Ring, chose instead to wear a Christian symbol, a ring that resonates with her own sense of faith and history.
