Walking Back In Time From 1600 To Antiquity By Decades (V3.0)

Here is a Pfennig from the Austrian City State of Salzburg. It was minted at Freisach between 1216 and 1220 AD. The obv legend is EBERHA RDS EPS while the rev legend is FRISACH. I have attributed it as Probst 18, Luschin 19, and CNA Ca20a.

Here is my last one for this decade: a Denaro from the Italian City State of Verona that can be dated to the range 1218 to 1250 AD. The obv legend is a bit degraded, but reads something like F CI I CI S (with the S retrograde) while the rev legend is a bit more clear at VE RO N A. I have attributed it as Biaggi 2970.

Ok thx @tdz for the additional attribution!

1200's...
Dharmasoka deva AD 1208-1209
Seated king, SRI DHA RMMA SI KA DE VA in Brahmi in two vertical lines in the left field / King standing, small altar in the left field, various dots and decorations in fields, 20mm, Mitchiner NIS 842 - 844


Sahassa Malla AD 1200 to 1202
Seated king, SRIMA SAHASA MALLA in Brahmi in two vertical lines in the left field / King standing, small altar in the left field, various dots and decorations in fields. 21mm, 4.24 grams. Mitchiner NIS 840-841. SKU 35682

Yes good to see a couple Octopus Men posted as they will officially move this thread back when we are ready. I'll find mine to post as well.

For now, I have here a Pfennig from the Austrian Bishopric of Salzburg that dates to between 1200 and 1246 AD. The obv legend is EBERHARDVS while the rev legend is FRI...SACH. I have attributed it as Bonhoff 2134, Probst 18, and CNA I: Ca14.

These nicely hammered French or English coins were quite a contrast with the Austrian pfennigs in the same time period. Was there a reason why the Austrian coins appear to be cruder?

Fascinating coins, @Palouche!

Nice Valence denier, @Spence, I still have to get my hands on one of those.

Meanwhile, another denier that fits well with the broad time range theme we seem to have at the moment:

Archbishopric of Lyon, denier, ca 1200-1260. Silver, 1.14 g, 18 mm. Duplessy 2540, Roberts 4032.



Obv: Crucifix shaped L, symbolizing the Archbishopric of Lyon.
Inscription: PRIMA SEDES (First See).

Rev: Cross.
Inscription: GALLIARVM (of Gaul).

The inscriptions on the two sides should be read together, as Prima Sedes Galliarum, that is, First See of Gaul (or Principal See of Gaul). This inscription was used on the feudal/archbishoprical coins of Lyon from the end of the 11th century until 1375. The proud motto has its origin in Notitia Galliarum, the 4th century Roman registry of the cities of Gaul, where Lyon (Lugdunum) is denoted as the metropolis ("mother city") of Gaul. In fact, Lyon got its first bishop already in the 2nd century and was an important bishopric throughout Roman and Medieval times. In 1079 Pope Gregory VII confirmed the Archbishop's of Lyon status as Primate of the Gauls, meaning he had authority over all bishops of France. Feudal minting ceased in the 14th century but Lyon is still today an Archdiocese, with an impressive 1900 year track record.

The Lyonnaise deniers had a good reputation and were referred to as deniers forts, "strong deniers," as their silver content was supreme to most other deniers around at the time (sometimes they were even referred to as "double deniers").

The dating of these coins is tricky. The design with the crucifix L was in use at least 1150-1365, with some variation and different ornamentations. Different sources date the variety I show here differently; some place it a bit later in time, to 1230-50. I prefer to stay with the more conservative wider range 1200-1260 (used by Duplessy).