I got a notification from MA-Shops saying this Messin denier was just added to a dealer’s inventory for €20+€3 shipping. It’s not the quality I have been holding out for, but I could not help myself at that price. This coin was struck under Bishop Betram in Metz between 1180 and 1212. Post your coins of Bertram, Metz, bishops, or your Jan 1 buys!
Friedrich von Pluvoise (1171-1173 A.D.) FRANCE, Provincial Metz (évêché) AR Denier O: FRIDERICS, Bareheaded and draped bust left. R: (rose) METE[N]SIS, Cross path with central pellet; crescent in second quarter, rosette in third quarter. .76g 15mm Robert 1; Boudeau 1623; Roberts 8856
Haven't pulled the trigger on anything yet, but I may add an Alexandrian tet to my collection in the next couple of days, and at the close of the next Frank Robinson auction (Jan. 15th) where I am considering a Ptolemaic hockey puck.
Neat acquisition! Love that slight golden tone it has. Correct me if I am wrong, but by now I am starting to suspect you have a ‘slight’ soft-spot for coins from Metz! As for coins of a bishop: how about some gold from a city we visited? A dreadful photo of the only gold coin in my collection, struck by the bishop of Utrecht: Obv: Standing St. Maarten (Martinus). SANCTE MERTIN’ EPIS’ Rev: Von Diepholt coat of arms in trefoil. MON' RODLP' EPISC’ TRAIET’ A St. Maartens Goudgulden of Bishop Rudolf von Diepholt (1433 -1455). Rudolf was technically elected bishop of Utrecht in 1423, but due to a power struggle within the city of Utrecht (known as the ‘Schism of Utrecht’) wasn’t officially recognised by the pope until 1433. Since he is named as episcopus on this coin, it must have been struck after this date. These goudguldens were known under quite a few different names; St. Maartens goudguldens (after the image on the obverse) and Postulaatsgulden (after the earlier pieces struck by Von Diepholt, where he was postulated as bishop but not yet recognised by the pope) are amongst the most common. In vernacular however, they had a different name: Knapkoek! Knapkoek is somewhat difficult to translate, but refers to a special type of firm biscuit that makes a loud snapping sound when broken. These guldens were famous for their low gold content; they could easily be snapped in half!
Y es! I was thinking the exact same thing, @TIF ! LOL But now that I think about it—my mind was wandering in that "First Coin" direction too
