So there I am, true story, in a dusty basement of the Elk's club in West Haven, CT. There were only a handful of dealers most with coins minted in their lifetimes. I had tentative plans to meet up with Collect89 and a single dealer we routinely patronize. The dealer in question generally has a wide variety of coins from all periods. Most of the coins are relatively low grade LRB ancients and battered early modern coins. He does carry some very good pieces and are priced accordingly. About a year ago I saw some coins that I wanted to add to my collection and for one reason or another didn't come home with them. I saw him a few months ago and the coins I was interested in seeing were said to be sold. Fortune shined upon me and surprisingly the three coins I was interested in were not sold but rather moved to some unsold box only to be reintroduced at much lower prices. After examining the coins in hand. I recalled why I wanted the pieces. I also realized which one I really wanted having had a year to think about. My disicion was swift and satisfying. After rattling the change with Collect89, I hurried home to measure and photograph my takers. I should mention that I got the one coin I wanted and 'most' of another that I didn't plan on, but screamed at me from the box of the "almost junk." Notice I said MOST of another coin. I guess I took from this show was, if there are no ancients to be had then you have to get medieval on that show. The coins: The "almost junk" little find... (Metellum) Melle, Kingdom of the Franks Carolingian West Francia Charles IV The Simple (The Straight Forward) s.898-922 AD AR Denier 22 mm x 1.03 grams Obverse:CARLV (retrograde S) REX R Reverse: MET / ALO Ref: Depeyrot 629 Note: Chipped, Very nice. " In the name of Charlemagne I really don't know a lot about this coin type but I do like the surviving retrograde S and the nice clear MET / ALO. I know this coin type had been used by various rulers with various spellings on the reverse. METALO refers to the mint location. Come to find out, the mint location is the most common source of coins of the Carolingian kings. During this period this mint city had access to one of the most productive silver mines of the Middle Ages. This coin has some confusing and very conflicting attributions. I have seen everything from Charlemagne or Louis the Pius to Charles the Simple to simply and anonymous coin. Anyone care to make comment. map...
As an enthusiast of these, I very much approve of this coin! Its being held for me but I too will be getting another Carolingian soon, so I can't wait to share it. That being said I wish I had collector friends that lived by me, to go to shows with
Very cool addition, Noob ... oh, and the map is a sweet touch (thanks for the effort) Wow, I can't believe that you're hunting in ValiantKnight's forest? (uh-oh Jango, folks are starting to snatch-up all of your raunchy coins from those rarer centuries) ... yup, you are introducing us to new coin avenues, my friend!! Noob, I still only have this one sweet Carolingian example to toss into your thread ... but it's a real sweetie!! CAROLINGIANS. Charles le Chauve (the Bald), AR Denier 840-877 AD Diameter: 20 mm Weight: 1.56 grams Obverse: Without mint signature (Orléans). + CΛRLVS REX FR, cross pattée with pellet in each quarter Reverse: XPISTIΛNΛ RELIGIO, temple
some pretty nice details for a coin of the type AN, nice score. a carolingian coin is on my infamous "list". post the rest!
Great post, and great coin AN! It's also great that you got the coins at a marked-down price - that always feels good.
@ Steve - great coin man. WOW. @ All - Stay tuned for Part 2 of How I went medieval at a local coin show. If you liked this piece the next is far better.
That sure is a nice piece. Judging from this page, I'd say Charles le Chauve, but that may be wrong. The silver mines in Melle are a museum by the way (guided tours only), and they even make coins there ... (pages in French) Christian
