One of my collecting areas is Anglo-Gallic coins, especially those of the early Plantagenet kings. By far the most prolific ruler of the dynasty, in terms of coins minted, is Richard I. While there were only three types of deniers minted in his name, they were produced in huge quantities in Aquitaine and Poitou. There is some speculation that coins in Richard's name were struck as a type immobilises by John and Henry III. And with that huge quantity comes dozens of varieties. The latest addition to my Anglo Gallic collection is a very common variety of denier for Richard, minted in Aquitaine. Richard I AR Denier as Duke of Aquitaine 1172-1189 AD Bordeaux mint. 18.0mm 0.86g Obv: +/RICA/RDVS/ω in four lines. Rev: +AQVITANIE, cross pattee within inner border. AGC 5 1/a While it is the most common varietiey of denier of Richard from Aquitaine, I love the tone of the coin and am always happy to add an attractive one of Richard to my collection. Feel free to add any coin or coins that, despite being common, you are happy to have added to your collection.
A nice looking addition, great toning for sure. Mine on the other hand.... Richard I "Lionheart" (1189 - 1199 A.D. Anglo-Gallic, Aquitaine Count of Poitou and Duke of Aquitaine 1172-1185 A.D., King of England 1189-1199 A.D. AR denier O: + / RICA / RDVS / ω. R: +AQVITANIE. Cross pattée. Bordeaux mint. 19mm .83g Elias 4; Poey D'Avant 2768.
That is a nice looking denier @Mat and has much better portion of the legends visible than my example. Now you just need to add an example from Poitou! @Severus Alexander I like both of those coins. Your denier from Poitou is actually a rare variety. The Withers, in their wonderful book on Anglo-Gallic coins, note that only 20-40 coins of the variety exist.
I have an example from Poitou, but have yet added one from Aquitaine... French Feudal - Poitou Richard I, r. 1168-1185 AR Denier, 17mm x 1 grams Obv.: +RICARDUS REX, cross patée, annulet in third quarter Rev.: PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, written in three parallel lines Ref.: AGC 343A (1/a), Duplessy 926, Roberts 3887, SCBC 8008, De Wit 394 Note: My First Medieval Coin
That's a great coin Fitz, and a wonderful King to start your medieval collection with. I have yet to add the type of denier you have to my Anglo-Gallic collection.
I had been working on an Aquitaine/Plantagenet collection myself for a while. Still something I have a desire to do, as it is amazing the branches this family had. I was about to post a bunch of coins, but the realized it would get too lengthy. I should just save it for its own post once I get a few more coins... I’ll leave it to these two relations of Richard’s: French Feudal - Aquitaine Henry II, r. 1152-1168 Bordeaux Mint, BL Denier, 16.57mm x 0.8 grams Obv.: +hENRICVS REX, cross pattée Rev.: º+º / AQVI / TANI / ºEº, in four lines Ref.: AGC 2 (1/a), Duplessy 1030, Roberts 3881, SCBC 8001, (Elias 1) Ex. R.D. Frederick Collection. Ex. A.H. Baldwin French Feudal - Aquitaine Eleanor, r. 1185-1204 AR Denier, 17.86mm x 0.8 grams Obv.: + DVCISIT, M above, A below, two cross pattee on either side Rev.: + AQVITANIE, Cross Pattee inside; Ref.: AGC 9B (1/a), Duplessy 1025 (Anonymous of William X), Roberts 4313, SCBC 8011, De Wit 401 I really need to upgrade that Eleanor...
Those are two great coins @FitzNigel especially that denier of Henry II. A collection of coins of Aquitaine would be really fun to put together. There would be a number of really interesting and famous noble families represented. When you upgrade your Eleanor denier I would be more than willing to give the old denier a new home.
I paid far too much for it considering the condition it’s in. Sadly Eleanor’s don’t come up too often, and I jumped the gun. what I find interesting is that in the pictures of all these Aquitainian/Poitou coins, there seems to be a grainy quality to the metal. I wonder what causes that? Is it the soil where they were found, or the quality of the Billon? While the Henry II is clearly grainy to the eye in hand, I hadn’t noticed it in my other coins, and so assumed it was my poor photography. But seeing others (and taking a cursory glance through my other French deniers which are likewise grainy) is making me second guess that.
Another Richard denier from Poitou: Anglo-Gallic Silver Denier, Richard I, Count of Poitou, 1172-1185 Obverse: RICARDVS REX (King Richard), cross within inner dot border Reverse: PIC/TAVIE/NSIS (Poitou) in three lines across field Silver, 19 mm, 1.14 gm Poitou (Poitiers) was located in Aquitaine, now part of France.
Just got a book on Eleanor. Great coins, both. Especially the Eleanor! I would REALLY like an Eleanor.
I think that these are Melle products, struck in billon made with silver from the local mines. The standard was high for these coins from the Carolingian times.
