Knights Templar King of France // Philippe IV "le Bel"

Knights Templar-period France. Philippe IV “le Bel”, 1285-1314 AD. Silver/Billon denier tournois. One side depicts a central Crusader cross, inscription + PHILIPPVS REX (“King Philip”) around / The other side depicts a Castle tournois, inscription + TVRONVS CIVIS (“City of Tours”). Coin reference: Duplessy 223 for type. Encapsulated and graded Very Fine by NGC. Coin measures 17mm diameter; archival slab measures 3.125" x 2.125" x 0.375”. Coin with dark gray tone with silvery highlights, nice cross! ** Struck during the height of power and glory of the Knights Templar, and supported their establishment of the world's first banking system for pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land and back. Once the patron king and greatest supporter of the Knights Templar, on Friday, October 13, 1307, Philip IV had hundreds of members of the order arrested in France and tortured until admitting heresy. Some died under torture, many were burned at the stake. Thereafter, Friday the 13th has become synonymous with bad luck and evil.Accompanied by a hand-signed certificate of authenticity which includes all the details, culture, dating, motifs/inscriptions when applicable, historical relevance, and provenance.