Suggestions on a good catalog for medieval coins of Europe?

Hi Guys,
Can anyone suggest a good catalog for medieval European coins? I don't handle nearly enough of them to warrant buying specialized books for each country or region, so I'm looking for one that covers Europe in general. I'm hoping there is one in English (not holding my breath ), but can work my way around most European languages decent enough.
Greatly appreciate your guys input, thanks

 

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If you want to do it cheap, go to the website of the Künker auctionhouse. There you can download the catalogs of the sale of the "De Wit collection of Medieval coins" (three parts, auctions 121, 130 and 137). That will give you a very nice and extensive catalog of medieval European coins for free.

 

Thanks, that's a very useful resource, and one that can be used to evaluate some coins.
I'm mostly looking for something that is relatively complete among various types, common and rare alike. I need it for identification purposes more so than anything else.
In the meantime I will be spending much of the day studying the three catalogs you linked, thanks again

 

I don't think there's a better catalog than De Wit for a broad selection of medieval coinage. Unfortunately, there is no one standard reference, no KM, that covers everything. The closest you'll be able to get is Medieval European Coinage, the catalog of the Oxford collections, of which three volumes are currently published (early issues/migration period, Sicily, and Spain). Even when finished, it won't exactly be complete.

 

There is problably no such catalog and I'm afarid there never will be such catalog which is even close to complete.
The medieval Germany alone would be probably several 'Krause World Coins' sized books.

 

Thanks for the suggestion THCoins. I will use that. I agree with others here. Medieval coins from all over the world is the hardest to get good references for. My Sogdian pieces are mostly medieval, and I have half a shelf full of russian references, as those are the only books published on the subject. Medieval anything is tough, with the exception of Byzantine coins. For those, there are wonderful, fairly complete references.

 

Thank you guys, some useful leads here

 

I looked up the "Medieval European Coinage" catalogs, and found up to 14 volumes, each over $100. Not sure if it's the same one you mentioned, since this one is from Cambridge, but I didn't find the other one.
So much for that idea. Will have to stick to lengthy online research as I have been doing thus far.
Thanks again

 

I would use the Kunker volumes over internet research. The problem with the internet, (and a lot of people do not get this), is lack of editorial oversight. There are no fact checkers on the internet, so every bit of information has to be weighed against the source. I have literally seen dozens of coins that just I am aware of being misattributed. It seems one dealer misattributes it, then this error is copied over and over by others. I saw this attribution all over the place, but I have the source book, and guess what? They were all wrong.

THis is why I like to use sources I know I can trust. A really good auction catalog from a reputable dealer would be one of these, as would reference books like you mention. Btw, there are only 3 volumes of the 14 currently published. I only own the 6th-10th century one, as my interest in European Medieval coins wanes after that timeframe except for Byzantine and close Byzantine types.

 

Thanks, I use both of these sites. The problem is... what to do when you can't identify the coin to research it. That's why I am looking for a resource to help me with that. Medieval coins are not something I normally deal with, so many times I have no idea what I am looking at, and often I am unable to read enough of the legends to identify the coin based on that.

 

Allow me to suggest Allen G. Berman's sales website here. He is the author of the standard reference on Papal coins. It used to be that he gave this book out with your first purchase over $100. But it is still priced right at $9.50. I use it.

READING MEDIEVAL EUROPEAN COINS / Ralph S. Walker
This book de-mystifies medieval coins. New second edition of the only inexpensive book on understnding the unusual world of medieval

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European coin inscriptions. The author takes the reader through all the aspects of reading medieval European coins. He explains the styles of medieval letters, together with the idiosyncrasies of minting. Chapters on abbreviations, monograms and word separators are of great importance, along with medieval numismatic grammer. Latin, the primary numismatic language, is an important section. Another provides a brief acquaintance with other languages such as Slavonic, Arabic, Greek, Hebrew and other vernacular languages.
The helpful appendicies include (a) an illustrative list of personal names, (b) titles on medieval European coins, (c) useful words found on medieval coins, and (d) sample religious legends on medieval coins. Also includes an expanded and updated bibliography by Allen G. Berman. 44 pp., ill.,.9.50

He also sells several other titles, some of which seem to be close to what you need. Among those is his catalog of the MEDIEVAL COINS IN THE CHRISTIAN J. THOMSEN COLLECTION by Kristian Erslev with Addenda by Alan M. Stahl & Allen G. Berman. ($69.50). I borrowed it from the ANA for some research and was very happy with the utility. And borrowing from the ANA library is another option, of course, if you are an ANA member.

 

Thank you so much Michael! I ordered the last book you mentioned just now, but I cannot find the first book, by Ralph Walker, for sale. Will keep looking. Thanks again.

 

You will find it, its just not a valuable item so many sellers never bother trying to stock it. I got mine in a group lot of books a few years ago. Check Ebay over the course of a few months and you will get one for under $10.

 

That's nice, but I prefer to support dealers who support the hobby. Allen G. Berman wrote the standard reference on Papal coinage; and he edited or co-authored other works. He strikes his own coins for Bermania. It's ten bucks. Goto his website, click Books and scroll down about halfway to find it.
http://www.bermania.com/toppage1.htm

 

German Minors: http://www.medievalcoinage.com/saurma/someoldcoins.org/saur/intro.htm

Lots of good info here: http://www.medievalcoinage.com/

Italy: http://incuso.altervista.org/cni.php

 

I probably buy more books than anyone here, including dealers. Since this title is long out of print, I simply do not see the benefit of having to buy it from a certain dealer. I didn't know that dealer had it on hand, so that is a fine option but so is nearly any other source you find. This title is frequently thrown in with group lots in kolbe and fanning auctions as well.