Charles the Bald. Another Carolingian (this time, I'm reasonably sure!)

Well, okay. So a few months ago, I proudly showed Carolingian coin of Heinrich II, only to find out that it was in fact not Carolingian, but one of the earliest coins of the Holy Romain Empire. So the hunt was still one, and today I posted my newest acquisition: a denarius of Lothair, the Carolingian king of West Francia. The title ("... my first Carolingian coin, this time for real!") suddenly became a bit ironic when @seth77 pointed out that this coin was in fact probably minted under the Viscounts of Bourges and thus, again, not Carolingian. I had a good chuckle, because, well, it's is kinda ironic

And also because I had this other coin delivered today. It's quite a stunner, and (probably) my prettiest Carolingian coin to date (heheh)

CAROLINGIAN, Charles II le Chauve. Denomination: AR Denier, minted: Le Mans, France; 834-877
Obv: + GRATIA D-I REX, monogram
Rev: + CINOMANIS CIVITAS, cross in the middle
Weight: 1.7g; Ø:19mm
Catalogue: Nou.146c-Dep.559-Prou.420
Provenance: Found near Amiens, France; acq.: 01-2020
Beautiful example, wonderful and pleasant toning.

And also, an obole (which is an immobilized type, i.e. minted posthumously):

CAROLINGIAN, Charles le Simple
Denomination: AR Obole, minted: Melle, France; 898-922 (or ~ 1100)
Obv: + CΛRLV(retrograde S) REX , cross in middle
Rev: MET ALO, within dotted border
Weight: 0.65g; Ø:16mm
Catalogue: ?
Provenance: Found near Amiens, France; acq.: 01-2020
Some green deposits, struck on good metal, nicely toned with orinigal luster remaining.

Okay. Of the first one, I'm reasonably sure that it is, this time for sure, a real Carolingian. I hope @seth77 et al agree this time. Of the latter, I'm torn between Charles le Simple and Charles le Chauve, and could not find a catalogue number. A bit of help is certainly appreciated.

Please, show me your coins that were not those you believed they were!

 

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Excellent coin....but you should edit your title, his name being Charles and not Chauve (which means bald, thus Bald the bald )

Q

 

Ugh @Cucumbor, you're absolutely right! Changed the title from "Chauves the bald" to "Charles the Bald".

 

The denier is a real beauty, congrats!!

 

The obole is local coinage of the County of Poitou type immobilise, likely Boudeau 414 or similar (I will check the book tomorrow) possibly from around 1000. Both excellent coins and including the denier au nom de Lothaire, you have been really lucky with your picks.

 

Beautiful coins. Do I maybe see a bit of a Carolingian collecting focus evolving here?

Also, the toning on that Charles the Bald denier is simply wow! A truly great example. My own denier of that type is from a different mint and not even half as nice.

Western Carolingian Empire, Charles the Bald, AR denier, 840–877 AD, "Curtisasonien" mint (Courcessin or Courgeon). Obv: +CRATIA D-I REX; Karolus monogram. Rev: +HCVRTISASONIEH; cross. 19.5mm, 1.69g. Ref: MEC I, 860–864.

That often happens to me with coins from that period. I got the one below at a good price, believing it to be a late, heavily blundered Otto-Adelheid-Penny. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a much less common issue of the Magdeburg Imperial mint. A pleasant surprise!

Magdeburg, Imperial mint, "Saxon penny," probably issued under Otto III (r. 983–1002 AD) and Archbishop Giselher (984–1004 AD). Obv: ...I M I... (corrupted MAGADEBURG); "wooden church" with four pellets inside; three pellets to l. and r. Rev: ...EI°III... (corrupted IN NOMINE DNI AMEN), cross pattée. 16mm, 1.27g. Ref: Dannenberg 1330; Mehl 30; Kilger Mg HP 1; Slg Hauswaldt 14.