Empire of Cyprus (1185-1191), (Cyprus (1191-1192), Lordship of Cyprus (1192-1197), Kingdom of Cyprus (1197-1571), Protectorate of Cyprus (1878-1914), Colony of Cyprus (1914-1960), Republic of Cyprus (1960-present)
Independent state (1185-1191, 1191-1489, 1960-present), Venetian Posession (1489-1571), British Protectorate (1878-1914), British Colony (1914-1960)
Location: Eastern Meditteranean
Capital City: Nicosia
Government type: Monarchy (1185-1191, 1192-1489), Military Order-State (1191-1192), Venetian Colony (1489-1571), British Territory (1878-1960), Republic (19600-present)
Main languages: Greek, Turkish
Main religions: Orthodox Christianity, Sunni Islam
Chronology
1185: Isaac Komnenos takes control of Cyprus and declares himself emperor of Cyprus, independent from Byzantines
1191: Richard I of England overthrows Isaac en route to the Third Crusade, places Cyprus under English administration, and sells it to the Knights Templar two months later
1192: Templars give Cyprus to Guy of Lusignan, former King of Jerusalem
1197: Lordship elevated to Kingdom
1197-1247: Vassal to the Holy Roman Empire
1374-1427: Vassal to Genoa
1427-1489: Vassal to the Mamluk Sultanate
1489: Queen Catherine cedes Cyprus to Venice
1570-1571: Ottoman conquest
1878: Cyprus becomes a British protectorate nominally still under Ottoman rule, but de facto under British control
1914: Britain formally annexes Cyprus as a colony
1960: Independent as the Republic of Cyprus
1974-1983: Northern part of Cyprus occupied by Turkey
1983: Northern Cyprus independent of Cyprus, but unrecognized
Currency
Hyperpyron (1185-1191)
1 Hyperpyron = 3 Trachy Nomisma = 48 Trachy Stamena = 864 Tetartera
Denier (1191-1489)
1 Bezant = 2 Gros = 48 Denier
Bisante (1489-1571)
1 Bisante = 12 Sizin = 48 Carzia
First Pound (1879-1955)
1 Pound = 20 Shillings = 180 Piastres
Second Pound (1955-1982)
1 Pound = 1000 Mils
Third Pound (1983-2007)
1 Pound = 100 Cents
Euro (2007-present)
1 Euro = 100 Euro Cents
Coins from Cyprus in the collection
Venetian Posession (1489-1571)
•1 Bisante, 1570 (Doge Alvise I Mocenigo (1570-1577), copper, Famagusta mint, MB#11) Siege of Famagusta emergency coin
British Protectorate (1878-1914)
•3 Piastre, 1901 (Queen Victoria (1878-1901), silver (.952), London mint, KM#4)
British Colony (1914-1960)
•1/2 Piastre, 1938 (King George VI (1936-1952), cupronickel, London mint, KM#22)
•1/2 Piastre, 1945 (King George VI (1936-1952), bronze, London mint, KM#22a)
•1 Piastre, 1942 (King George VI (1936-1952), bronze, London mint, KM#23a)
•1 Piastre, 1944 (King George VI (1936-1952), bronze, London mint, KM#23a)
•1 Piastre, 1945 (Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1960), bronze, London mint, KM#33)
•3 Mil, 1955 (Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1960), aluminum-magnesium, London mint, KM#38)
•5 Mil, 1956 (Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1960), bronze, London mint, KM#34)
•50 Mil, 1955 (Queen Elizabeth II (1952-1960), cupronickel, London mint, KM#36)
Republic (1960-present)
•1 Mil, 1963 (aluminum-magnesium, London mint, KM#38)
•5 Mil, 1963 (bronze, London mint, KM#39)
•25 Mil, 1963 (cupronickel, London mint, KM#40)
•25 Mil, 1975 (cupronickel, London mint, KM#40)
•50 Mil, 1974 (cupronickel, London mint, KM#41)
•100 Mil, 1963 (cupronickel, London mint, KM#42)
•1 Cent, 1996 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#53.3)
•2 Cent, 2003 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#54.3)
•5 Cent, 1990 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#55.2)
•10 Cent, 1983 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#56.1)
•10 Cent, 1993 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#56.3)
•20 Cent, 1983 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#57.1)
•20 Cent, 1994 (nickel brass, Llantrisant mint, KM#62.2)
•50 Cent, 1985 (cupronickel, KM#58) Comemmorative: International Year of Forests
•50 Cent, 1991 (cupronickel, Llantrisant mint, KM#66)
•20 Euro Cent, 2008 (nordic gold, Athens and Vantaa mints, KM#82)
Banknotes from Cyprus in the collection
Republic (1960-present)
•50 Cent, 1989 (P#49)