Featured New Carolingian acquisition

Those disgusted or are otherwise offended by broken coins, I recommend you click away now!
Only warning! Last chance!

I try to avoid broken coins like many of you, but I love collecting from this time period and the history of the Dark Ages and I knew this coin had a good chance for selling for much cheaper than unbroken examples would usually fetch. I took a chance and snagged it for IMO was a good price: $21 shipped is bringing me home this rare piece of Dark Ages goodness. Now for the obligatory history lesson


Charles the Bald (b. 823 AD) was the son of Emperor Louis the Pious of the Carolingian Empire, and one of the grandsons of the famous Charlemagne. After Louis died in 840 AD, his empire fell into civil war between his sons, Charles included. After becoming allies with his brother Louis the German, they together defeated the other son the emperor Lothair I a year later. In the Treaty of Verdun drawn up between the brothers, the empire was divided among the kings (although nominally still united) and Charles would ended up receiving West Francia and Louis ended up with East Francia. Lothair remained as emperor and was granted control of northern Italy.

Charles's reign as king in West Francia was mostly peaceful, aside from soem family disputes and from conflicts with the Bretons and the Vikings. He later allied himself with the Pope John VIII and when Emperor Louis II (son of Lothair) died in 875, was crowned emperor in Rome. Louis the German then made war but soon after died a year later, after which Charles attempted but failed to conquer Louis's half of the empire.

After a failed expedition to help the Pope against Saracen raiders threatening Italy, Charles the Bald died on October 6, 877.

According to Wikipedia, there are a couple theories why he was referred to as 'bald":

Charles the Bald, King of the Franks (840-877 AD) and Carolingian emperor (875-877 AD)
AR Obol
Obv: Monogram of Charles
Rev: [M]ETVLLO around cross in circle
Metallum (Melle) mint

 

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Super glue is your friend!

 

It was $21, if it was broken, so what.

 

All better now.

 

I love it ... it brings back memories

 

Your posts are always informative and intriguing, VK. Well-done.

 

Thanks John, I do appreciate the feedback. I do especially try to spice up any acquisitions of mine that probably look like they would be chucked into a junk bin by someone that didn't care. Aside from my little bro, only my parents and a couple of other relatives know I collect but don't really give two you-know-whats about it, except with my parents they're more concerned about how much I'm spending every month lol, so onto the forum my coins go for the few people I know who do care.

 

A couple of pictures of Charles the Bald I found. The first is an older version of him and which I believe is contemporary while the second looks more recent (I'd guess within the last few centuries) and looks to be based on the first picture.

 

Why are the Carolingians and the Franks relevant you ask? Well, the Frankish nation was the most powerful and stable state to exist in western Europe since the Western Roman Empire fell in the late 5th century AD, helping to establish and maintain order during the Dark Ages. The Carolingians and their predecessor dynasty the Merovingians managed to keep Europe safe from Muslim conquest, and the division of the Carolingian Empire provided the bases for the modern nations of France and Germany.

 

The first portrait looks decidedly medieval - what is the source of the second? That's more of a renaissance style.

 

Well, Jango ... I know that you know that I have a "Chuck The Bald" ...

=> man, I love these Carolingians!!

Congrats on scoring one of these babies (as you know => they ain't cheap)

 

I both got them from Wiki but I do agree the second looks more Renaissance-ish. I'm not really much of an art expert But the second does look like if the painter based it on the first picture; in both, Charles is sitting, with his crown and holding his staff and helmet.

 

=> I thought that was his Grad Photo and he had a rugby ball?

 

If I had to choose one coin from your collection to have, it'd be this one no doubt! Soooo..... will you adopt me? I'm housebroken

 

And here are my two coins (and my only other Carolingians) of Chuck's daddy,
Mr. the Pious:

Louis the Pious, King of the Franks and Carolingian Emperor (814-840 AD)
AR Denier
Obv: + HLVDOVVICVS IMP, legend around cross with pellets within circle
Rev: + XPISTIANA RELIGIO, legend around temple, cross in temple
Unknown mint, struck 822-840 AD
Ref: MEC 794

 

Louis the Pious, King of the Franks and Carolingian Emperor (814-840 AD)
AR Denier
Obv: + HLVDOVVICVS IMP, legend around cross within circle
Rev: + METALLVM, legend around cross within circle
Metallum mint (modern Melle, France), struck 816-822 AD
20 mm wide, Rare

 

=> gorgeous (congrats) ... great collection

 

Thanks!

Also I thought this was interesting, a really cool map I found of Europe and the Mediterranean area in 840 AD (click to enlarge):



And how the empire was divided at Verdun in 843 AD:

 

I'd like to acquire some Carolingian pieces myself, but I think I'd start with buying Morrison and Grunthal first. The coins aren't cheap, and I won't drop a wad of cash on something I know very little about.

 

I like maps!


..........and turtles!