HUNGARY. Béla III, 1172-1196. Rézpénz (Bronze, 26 mm, 2.83 g, 2 h). +SANCTA ARIA The Virgin Mary, nimbate, seated facing on throne, holding scepter in her right hand and Child Jesus in her left. Rev. RЄX BЄLA RЄX STS Bela III and Stephen III enthroned facing within Gothic niche, wearing crowns surmounted by crosses, each holding long scepter in right hand and globus cruciger in left; above, cross. Huszár 72. Réthy 98. A very attractive and sharply struck example. Good extremely fine.

Style and fabric of this type closely resemble the famous Byzantine Trachy coinage, attesting the deep cultural influence the empire exerted over southeastern Europe. It is worth noting that Bela himself was sent to Constantinopolis by his older brother Stephen at the age of 15 years, where he grew up at the court of Manuel I Comnenus. Like so many foreign princes before him, the young Bela must have been deeply impressed by the magnificent and highly cultivated capital of the venerable Empire. He eventually got engaged with Maria, Manuel's daughter, and adopted the name Alexios when he became the Byzantine crown prince in 1165. However, when a son was born to Manuel I in 1169, Bela lost his rank and his engagement with Maria was dissolved, laying the foundation for his return to Hungary in 1172 when his brother Stephan was poisoned.