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 Replies: 15 / Views: 6,424 |
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Moderator
 United States
34416 Posts |
As far as I can tell, this coin type has only been posted once here on CCF previously: http://goccf.com/t/272156It is a denaro of the Italian seaport of Lucca. At the end of the first millennium AD and into the second, these denari of Lucca were widely used across the European continent. Lucca was a major mint in Italy and a center for trade. Interestingly, Grierson and Blackburn propose that Alberic II of Spoleto (932 to 954 AD) may have adjusted the weight of the papal coinage to match that of the Lucca standard. These coins were widely used by the early Crusaders. Raymond of Aguilers specifically mentions the coinageof Lucca in his chronicle of the first Crusade. The design, which comprises a letter H surrounded by +IMPERATOR on the obv and LVCA surrounded by +ENRICVS on the rev, was frozen between 1039 and 1125 AD as it was used by three successive King Henrys (III, IV, and V). Biaggi states that the letter H is actually a monogram of conjoined capital letter Ts; however, the significance of the letter T is unclear to me. Perhaps one of our other members can illuminate me? From what I can tell, these were nearly universally minted with alarmingly poor quality. For example, the plate coins in Biaggi are barely intelligible. However, the inner letters (H and LVCA) are generally a little clearer than the rim legends. My coin is a particularly bad example, even for this type. The mass is 0.9 g and the diameter is 14 mm. It is attributed as Biaggi 1058. I note that the same coin design, but without the cross on rev legend can be attributed as Biaggi 1056 and was minted by Henry II (1004 to 1024 AD). Both of these two coins are pretty widely available, with six coins for sale on vcoins right now.   "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Always a treat to see a type that doesn't get much coverage on these boards. Thanks for sharing, Dave.
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I don't know how you and Bob do it, I would have never guessed what this coin was. Nice to see it, and as
usual I enjoyed your write up.
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Moderator
 United States
34416 Posts |
Thanks Bob and Ron. I've been doing some thinking about the coins of the Crusades lately--might be an interesting thread topic.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
Here is my Lucca denaro , same ref. on the obverse :the I of imperator is at 11 h on the reverse :at 5/6h : S ,at 7H + , at 8h : E of Enricus in the reverse middle : LUCA : L above the S ; It is easier to see with the coin in hand . I have no idea of the monogram,I was thinhing it is a H. albert   |
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Moderator
United States
34416 Posts |
Albert, yours has some pretty nice detail remaining!
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
Staying in Italy , a AR denarius from Ancona obv: +.PP.S QUI.R.I.A. ,in the middle : V.C S rev : + . DE ANCONA 16 mm , 05 gr , 4 h 12th - 13 th century . Biaggi 33 Any idea how to understand the obverse legend ? maybe : PP populus (people) S senatus (senate) quiri Quirites (citizens) a Ancona ? and VCS? albert   |
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Moderator
United States
34416 Posts |
Quote:
VCS? I can help a little bit with one of your questions. First, according to Biaggi, the letters on the rev are actually ordered: "C V S". I don't know for sure, but this might be short for civitas (city). Some of the other coins from Ancona of this time period have A C V S, which theoretically could be short for ANCONA CIVITAS. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
thanks, I will post some medieval coins later.albert
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New Member
Canada
4 Posts |
Here's mine   |
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Moderator
United States
34416 Posts |
@banqshawt, yes very nice to see yours as well. Hope we get to see other medieval coins in your collection.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1554 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
7947 Posts |
We also deciphered that legend on another thread started more recently http://goccf.com/t/312302Though the exact meaning of PP is not clear to me. One P would likely mean patron. But two? Edited by tdziemia
04/16/2018 06:09 am
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
Maybe Patronus Populi ( of the people) , Sanctus QUIriacus , but here I have a problem , I read : PP.S.QUI.R.I.A. , so the R , the I and the A indicates other words , I suppose .A can be Anconae ( from Ancona) , but R and I ? Any idea ? albert
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7947 Posts |
I see what you mean by the breaks in the lettering, but I think it must just be the entire name of the saint (with the last three letters, CVS in the center), as given by kushanshah in the earlier post. Here is a later Ancona coin with an image of the saint and the same legend:  Edited by tdziemia
04/17/2018 4:47 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
I think you are right . I have no better explanation . Thanks . albert
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Replies: 15 / Views: 6,424 |
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Posted 02/20/2017 9:16 pm
