Ugly Coin Unusual Strike Method

Here's an ugly little silver coin I recently picked up...



Duke Bernhard von Spanheim, Austria, AR Pfennig, 1202-1256

O: Bernhard standing, holding staff and flag. R: Paschal Lamb advancing right. 17 mm, 1.1 g

This type of coin was pretty common in Austria around this time period and a bit after (sometimes called "Friesacher Pfennigs" or “Wiener Pfennigs” ). Wiener because of Vienna!

Anyway, these were struck a techinque known as the "vierschlag method" . I guess the coin was struck on a single sided die, then put on another die and stuck again. The process would damage the devices on the coin, and you usually see sharp lines (see around the lambs rump?) with flat areas beyond. Do I understand this correctly? @FitzNigel this is probably up your alley?

Here's another contemporary coin of mine that shows the lines more clearly.



Post any 13th century coins from Western Europe (or anything related)!

 

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If that is indeed how it was done... why??

(It makes for an interesting story though )

 

I think I had heard that before, but haven't really researched these much. I don't think there is a lot of literature aboun German Coins in English. There is a book on Bracteates out there I'm looking into getting eventually, and I believe it is a similar process (bracteates just didn't bother to do both sides since they are so thin...).

Nice looking coin though!

 

Very strange isn't it? Thanks FN!

@chrisild ? would you happen to know?

 

..a time of inopia scriptorum obscurum.. telltale signs in coinage.. i prolly have more, but the only one i can think of off the bat is Louis lX denier

 

I have no idea but bought this Halle, Bavaria, hand of God heller because I did not have anything remotely similar.

 

Nice one Chris, I like it.

One of my uglier medievals that is rarely shared.


Franche-Comté, Archeveche de BESANCON, ANONYMOUS ( 1180-1225 A.D. )
Denier
O: P THO M[A]RTIR, hand blessing.
R: + BISVNTVM, cross pattée
17mm
0.7g
Féodales; Poey d'Avant pl. CXXII, 5.

 

That's a cool one, I read somewhere that those were struck during "the black death" outbreak. I wonder if that's what the "hand of God" symbolizes?

 

Hrm, if the plan is for UGLY medievals...


Crusader Imitation of Lucca
Henry III-V, r. 1035-1125
Crude AR Denier, 15.27mm x 1.1 grams
Obv.: H center, IMPERATOR around
Rev.: LVCA forming cross, ENRICVS around; Ref.: De Witt, 3691
Note: Found in Holy Land


French Feudal, Normandy
Henry I, r. 1106-1135
AR Denier, 19.53 mm x 0.9 grams
Obv.: +NOR[M]MANIA. Short Cross with pellets in each quarter
Rev.: Short cross with annulets and bars on either side, triangle above and below
Ref.: Dumas XX-13, Roberts, 4837 reverse

While the Norman coin may not win any beauty contests, I think it's gorgeous... (might need a reshoot, however. I see some red reflections from the overhead light)

 

I think the hand was just a pun on the name of the issuing authority

 

I can look it up later - I'm about to be busy for a little while

 

Okay, here are 2.

Edward I (Longshanks AKA the hammer of the Scots)

Louis IX AKA St. Louis-the only canonized French King

 

That is a really odd way of minting coins @chrsmat71
Obliterating details of the coin seems a bit of an odd thing to do during the striking process.

I'll add an Edward I AR Penny
London mint May-Dec 1279 AD 18mm 1.46g
New coinage Class 1c
Obv: Kings facing bust; EDW REX ANGL' DNS HYB
Rev: Long cross pattee; trefoils in quarters
CIVI/TAS/LON/SON
SCBC 1382

 

@Orfew Your Edward I AR Penny always gets me salivating, what a great obverse. I was floored when I saw the price Harlan J Berk had put on it. Talk about a steal!

 

Here is my ugliest medieval, a field find that took some hits while in the ground.

Edward III AV Quarter Noble
Transitional treaty period 1361 AD
London mint 19mm 1.81g
Obv: EDWAR DEI GRA REX ANGLD
Rev: EXALTABITVR IN GLORIA

 

Thanks @TheRed

I really like it too. I could not believe the price so I bought it as soon as I saw it. Though the reverse has problems the obverse is great. I think the portrait is particularly clear.

I also like your example. It has a very clear cross on the reverse.

 

Excellent coin @TheRed

I have been looking at the hammered gold coins lately and would love to pick up an example in the future.

 

I cannot find the reference to these hand of god coins that I remember, but it seems to me they were issued by Schwäbisch Hall, hence they were "hellers " which is somehow related to the word hand, but I don't know...

 

Thanks @Orfew I too would love to get some nice medieval hammered gold. Top on my list is Plantagenent gold, such as a nice noble of Edward III, but I can never save my coin money. I always find a coin or two that call out to me and before I know it I'm back to square one.

I was wrong about my ugliest coin.
AV Quarter of a Noble

 

LOL, someone got MEDIEVAL on THAT coin! It certainly was not drawn-and-quartered. That piece was RIPPED off the coin! OUCH!