Post your medieval bracteates!

Discussion in 'World Coins' started by lordmarcovan, Aug 9, 2025 at 6:46 AM.

  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    I have only two, but I think they’re pretty nice ones.

    IMG_4118.jpeg IMG_4119.jpeg IMG_4120.jpeg


    IMG_4121.jpeg IMG_4122.jpeg
     
    Evan8, tibor, -jeffB and 4 others like this.
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  3. Tall Paul

    Tall Paul Supporter! Supporter

    Post some! Heck I didn't even know what they were until I went to Wikipedia and looked them up. Neat pieces, almost like a medieval brockage.
     
    lordmarcovan likes this.
  4. -jeffB

    -jeffB Greshams LEO Supporter

    While I was enjoying the privilege of checking these two out in person (but I'm not gloating), I asked @lordmarcovan whether they were struck with one die against something soft, or whether there were obverse and reverse dies. From my naive examination, I thought the design was equally sharp on both faces, which made me think the dies were used in pairs. (Perhaps make and harden one die, then use it like a hub to strike the second die, then harden the second one?)

    Fair guess, but wrong, according to Britannica:
    The die struck a blank, which struck another blank, which struck another blank... until the forces passed through the final blank and dissipated into the leather backing. Almost makes me want to try it myself with some soft, thin sheet metal...
     
    lordmarcovan likes this.
  5. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    You and the Encyclopedia Britannica have just educated me, sir!
     
  6. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Don’t feel bad- I was a latecomer to them myself, until I got the William Longsword example above (the one with the lion). Decided I couldn’t have just one, so I bought the more expensive Mint State example with that whimsical little bishop on it. I love how quintessentially medieval the designs on these look.
     
    Tall Paul likes this.
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