If we look up Denero in dictionaries and encyclopedias we are told: wiki.answers.com reads: "Denero means Money and is usually preceded by the word more or much." en.wikipedia.org reads: "The dinero was the currency of the Christian states of Spain from the 11th century. It was copied from the French Denier and served in turn as the model for the Portugese dinheiro." treasuresrealm.com states: "The dinero was the currency of the Christian states of Spain from the 11th century. It was copied from the French Denier and served in turn as the model for the Portugese Donheiro." As for the French Denier, Treasure Realm tells us "Deniers - [France, Haiti, Switzerland-Cantons] the various coins issued in French-speaking regions, especially a coin of France, originally of silver but later of copper, introduced in the 8th century and continued until 1794." {From Late Middle English from Old French from Latin denarius denarius} [France, French States, Swiss Cantons] Denier Tournois - [France, French States, Monaco]" Further research indicates that Denero coinage has its roots in the Roman (Latin: Denarius) as well as do the denominations of 1. Hungary, Poland and Transylvania (Denar) 2. Italian States, Lithuania and the Swiss Cantons (Denari) Still more research explains: "The independent states into which Italy was then divided were quick to adopt this silver coin, and it played a leading role in the numismatic history of the region until the thirteenth century. In spite of the introduction of the heavier silver grosso around 1200 and the resumption of gold coinage after 1250, the denaro long remained an important supplementary coin. The early type denaro was first minted in Benventum, and the obverse, following French custom, uses the duke's monogram as the central type. The reverse shows the influence of the Byzantine Empire that once controlled the area: it carries a cross on steps, a standard type on Byzantine gold and silver coinage. This first type of denaro had a diameter of 17 millimeters, and weighed 1.26 grams. Later coins were somewhat lighter and, in many instances, contained less silver. Designs continued to be quite simple as there was little room for devices on a denaro." Here's a photo courtesy of treasurerealm.com" Italian States, Milan: -- : Denaro (Silver) 1039-1125: http://www.treasurerealm.com/coinpapers/countrycoins/coins/I/italy01.html Folllowing coin photos courtesy of Coin Archives unless noted otherwise. Italian States, Siena : - : Denero (silver) 1390: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1012756&AucID=934&Lot=372&Val=edf66c2f0139b3e2a2fd02612d6e1f0d Italian States, Aquileja: - : Denero (silver) 1204-1218: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1029582&AucID=947&Lot=1887&Val=5aad7e5b9377356954557bf8360a85e3 Italian States, Aquileja: - : Denero (silver) 1218-1251: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1033727&AucID=953&Lot=1423&Val=134abe1e4f5db1247d94dac0d71d1038 Italian States, Trieste: - : Denero (silver) 1204-1218: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1029621&AucID=947&Lot=1926&Val=4fb6df22febba53dac5a1a4dd0688847 Iralian States, Venezia: - : Denero (silver) 814-849: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=982187&AucID=914&Lot=524&Val=9507149965291ca66f0e80d0de208421 Italian States, Sicily (Sizilien): - : Denero (silver)1197-1250: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1034334&AucID=954&Lot=2205&Val=40428573229c96dcddafe4c965e01af0 Italian States, Naples (Neapel): - : Denero (silver)1285-1309: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1034325&AucID=954&Lot=2196&Val=faa313e63a43bd707904ca37556fb234 Italian States, Casa Savoia: - : Denero (silver) 1103-1148: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1036654&AucID=955&Lot=1022&Val=dcb9233490740bcdef484e1abca72a7d Italian States, Marche (Ancona): - : Denaro (silver): http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1036657&AucID=955&Lot=1025&Val=48245f0281a5758fff4d51af71311186 Italian States, Brescia (Lombardia): - : Denaro (silver) 1186-1254: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1036659&AucID=955&Lot=1027&Val=7b0fb7dfc51c48470cc71b6c757ec02b You understand, but lest you think all Denaro coins were of a single amount, take a look at this next photo: Italian States, Milan (Milano): - : 5 Denaro (silver) 1604: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1029592&AucID=947&Lot=1897&Val=f8a4f36aa5b9e8d743153abb2d0954db Here's 3 bonus photos for reading this post: Italian States, Genoa: - : Grosso (silver) 1528-1797: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1029587&AucID=947&Lot=1892&Val=dbfb80fd3b60a021fae94157a4242b0c Italian States, Milano: - : Grosso (silver) 1500-1512: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1029590&AucID=947&Lot=1895&Val=3a19dadafc24a2a8da8501a8718d60af Italian States, Vatican (Papale or Stato Pontifacio): - : Grosso (silver) 872-882: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotviewer.php?LotID=1029594&AucID=947&Lot=1899&Val=50bb07ef66d848b19bebb85dade13aed By the way, Grosso translates to "Fat" or "The Fat." Thought you should know... Clinker
Great post as always Clinker. I would add one other coin related, and that would be penny. While the word penny is from the german pfenning, the abbreviation was always d for denarius. This was because the penny in medieval England was a small silver coin just like the denari. So, the English penny was actually a hybrid coin with both german and ancient roman roots. It really is amazing when you think about it how much of our modern life is still directly related to ancient Rome. Chris
That setup, with 1 libra/pound being equal to 20 solidi/shillings, and 1 solidus being 12 denarii/pence, was introduced by Charlemagne in the Frankish Empire. It was then adopted in England too ... where it "survived" a little longer than here. An interesting combination of coins, Clinker, and thanks for providing the background! By the way, the "grosso" is derived from "grossus denarius" (fat or big penny). That grossus term originally referred to various thick silver coins, as opposed to the thinner denarius. Currency units such as the "Groschen" (in Austria until 2001, and a colloquial term for the German 10 Pfennig coin) or "Grosz" (in Poland where 1 złoty is 100 groszy) are derived from it. Christian
I, somehow, omitted the "thick" translation (Thank you for pointing that out). Thanks for the additional coin denominational derivitives... Clinker
Of course, today it's abbreviated as p instead of d. 50d would actually have been written as 4s2d in the old system.
