Latest addition is a coin I have long wanted and finally got it, courtesy of John. Charles VI "The Mad”, (1380 - 1422 A.D.) AR Blanc Guénar O: + KAROLVS: FRANCORV: REX; Shield of arms. R: + SIT: nOmE: DnI: BENEDICTV; Cross with two crowns and two lis. 2.9g 29mm DuP 377
cool coin mat, I didn't think that coin was as large as it was...almost 30 mm. I don't have much from this era, here is one.. Bulgaria, Ivan Stratzimir, 1360-1396 AD, AR Ducat O: Czar enthroned. R: Bust of Christ. Greirson 388, 18 mm, 0.8 g pretty rough, but it's the about the last Bulgarian coin until the 19th century.
Can we asked why you wanted it? I have some misc medieval coins from lots, but I usually stop myself around 1000 unless Byzantine or related. No reason why, just personal taste.
The history. Remember I tend to like nutball figures in history. Plus I have always liked medieval coins almost as much as ancients, but they tend to get expensive quicker.
I don't collect medievals but the name of that ruler alone might tempt me. Charles the Mad? Yeah... the stories must be fun
Very nice @Mat ! That was one of the coins I wanted to grab as a representative piece for Medieval France. Great minds think alike @chrsmat71 , there are several minor versions of that coin depending on what is shown below the throne. Yours seems to be the one that has a ✷ underneath it. The other types include an axe, face, fern, and blank. I have never seen the fern-type, but I have the axe, left-facing head, and blank types:
When you read the history of Charles the Mad, you end up feeling sorry for him more so than anything else - at least I did. He was clearly suffering under some sort of delusional illness, maybe paranoid schizophrenia. And of course there were no effective treatments for mental illness in the 14th century. His stories are funny, but in a tragic way. As far as the coinage goes, the blanc guenars have a very pleasing aspect in hand. They are quite large, the silver is milled quite thinly and evenly, and they are generally well-struck. I took a picture of the coin in the sunlight before it went to Mat, and it gives you an idea of the size and color...
LOL, I KNEW why you got it my friend! LOL. Nice coin. I regret that I have no Medieval coins, however the story behind this nut-case is hilarious and also sad too...
