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Message:: [QUOTE="Tejas, post: 7753979, member: 84905"]Here is a Pfennig of Duke Bernhard I Billung from my collection. The coin was minted in my home region at Bardowik (or Lüneburg). Bernhard was Duke in Saxony following the death of his famous father Hermann Billung in 973 until his own death in February 1011.Berhard I was marshal of the emperor and led campaigns against the Danish King Harald Bluetooth and the Slavic Luitzen tribe in Brandenburg. The Billung family was related to the last pagan Saxon duke Widukind, who, in the 8th century had fought a long and bloody war of resistance against the Frankish invasion under Charles the Great. Some trivia:Widukind is still held in high esteem today. Some families in Westfalia that claim decent from Widukind's followers are called "Sattelmeier" today. They own large and very old farms called "Sattelhöfe". When a Sattelmeier dies, a special ceremony is held. Thus, the bells of the Stiftskirche zu Engern, i.e. the church where Widukind is buried will ring at the "royal hour". The coffin will be taken to Widukind's graves on a carriage drawn by 6 black horses. The Sattlemeier's horse follows the carriage only then come the mourners. During the funeral service at Widukind's grave the Sattlemeier's horse waits in the entrance of the church.   [ATTACH=full]1328139[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]