Medieval deja-vu, all over again!

Look familiar? My last purchase of 2018 will certainly be in the top 3 of my 2018 coin list, so you be seeing this coin yet again in week or so. This was one of stevex's medieval coins, his "sweet Lorraine" and it was always one of my favorites. Sometimes medieval coin don't have the most spectacular artistic styles, but this charging knight is killer! I love how his horse appears to be jumping through the circle of rings bordering the legend. I dig predominant weapons and armor, that that sword obverse is kick @#$ as well. Also do big to be contained in the circle on the obverse!


The birds on each side of the sword are "avalerions". If you have no clue what those are, I didn't either. They are a mythical medieval bird that are still on the flag of Lorraine to this day.



Plus, I've been saying I need a coin of medieval France for a year or so...another problem solved.

Here is my new photo of this old favorite.



Lorraine, Theobald II AR Double Denier, 1303-1312 AD.

O: The Duke of Lorraine, in armour, riding caped steed to right, carrying spear and shield, R: Downward sword between two Avalerions. 16 mm, 1.0g, Bd.1456 (6 f.). Ex. SteveX6 collection.

Please post your coins of medieval France, ex. stevex6 coins, charging warriors, or big ol' weapons!!!

Hey @dadams , you have a really nice one...you should post it!!!

Here is steve's original pic, think I like it better.

 

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One of my favorite French coins. Eleanor of Aquitaine.

 

Congrats on the cool coin @chrsmat71 that is a great addition to your collection. I also picked up a stevex6 from Lorraine, albeit back in 2017.

Antoine the Good, Duke of Lorraine, AR Demi-plaque; 1508-1544 AD Nancy mint 22 mm 1.59 grams
Obv: Crowned ducal coat of arms; + ΛnThOn : ∂ : G : CΛLΛBЧ : LOThOЧ : ЄT : BΛЧ : ∂ (double saltire stops).
Rev: Armored arm, wielding sword, emerging from clouds; + mOnЄTΛ : nOVΛ : FΛCTΛ : nΛnCЄIO : (double saltire stops).
Reference: De Saulcy pl. XIV, 13; Roberts 9491; Boudeau 1507

 

Oh yay!! I'm glad someone finally snagged that fun coin and I'm glad it was you, @chrsmat71! @TheRed's is also memorable for its unusual obverse design.

 

Very nice! I always enjoyed that coin.

My best looking French coin:

French Feudal, Toulouse
William IX of Aquitaine, second reign r. 1109-1117
AR Denier, 18.82 mm x 1.1 grams
Obv.: VVILELMO COME, Cross Pattee in center, S in second quarter
Rev.: +TOLOSA CIVI around, PAX in center
Ref.: Duplessy 1210 (as William IV), Roberts 4225 (As William IX), De Wit 439 (as William IV)

 

FRANCE, FEUDAL, Valence, Bishops of Valence and Die,
Denier
OBVERSE: Stylized angel facing, +VRBS VALENTIAI
REVERSE: Cross annulet in fourth quadrant, +S APOLLI NARS
Struck at Valence, FR, 1157-1276
1.18g, 19mm
Boudeau 1021

 

Sweet coin @chrsmat71, and I have to say your pic is much better than Steve's

Your knight couldn't have been charging mine, though, as there's 150 years between them.

It's the sixth known example


Jean II de Bourbon (1456-1488)
Franc à cheval, or - sans date - Atelier de Trévoux
+IONES*DVX*BORBONII*TREVOBCII׃NS. Buste cuirassé du Prince à gauche, portant le collier de l'ordre de St Michel.
DEXTER A*D NI.*EXAL TAVIT*MEA Le Prince casqué et cuirassé à cheval, brandissant une épée et passant à droite. La housse est semée de lis, accompagnée de la brisure (les armes de la maison de Bourbon).
3,44g - 22 mm
Ref : Divo Dombes # 1 (5 exemplaires décrits), Mantellier -, Poey d’Avant -, Caron # 544, Friedberg # 119

Q

 

Medieval deniers of Duke Ferri III of Nancy

I was this >< close to buying it, but money (plus I already had medievals from Nancy).

 

This great thread needs a bump off of p. 2...

denier of Odo (888-898)

 

@chrsmat71 the charging knight is quite impressive. I don't have many medieval coins, but this one from Norman Sicily caught my eye a few years ago:

Tancred (King of Sicily reigned 1189-1194) Æ Follaro
Obv: +ROGERIVS:; in center, REX; dots above and below
Rev: Arabic (Kufic) legend on two lines - المالك تنقرير (al-malik Tanqrir; the King, Tancred)


Tancred has quite a story as the bastard son of Roger the III. Short, ugly and mocked by his critics as the "Monkey King", a small but fierce soldier he was called "Tancredulus", battles for the throne in Sicily, exile to Constantinople, sailing a fleet to Alexandria, Egypt, only to retreat quickly, a coup to become king of Sicily, a reign of 5 years that included battles with Richard the I of England and Philip the II of France which led to a treaty and a gift of the sword Excalibur (purported to be King Arthur's) from Richard the I (The Lionheart), more battles with his Aunt Constance and her husband Emperor Henry the VI for the throne, more battles in Apulia, and ultimately his death in Palermo in 1194 at the age of 56.

I couldn't resist this coin of 2.2g and 15mm, small, and perhaps ugly, like Tancred himself.

 

Thanks for the comments everyone, and what awesome medieval coins!

That's a neat little coin, is that pseudo-Arabic (or real Arabaic?) on the reverse?

That is a super coin as well!

That coin is HOT.

I didn't remember that coin, that is one killer charing knight as well....SUPER!

 

Legible/real Arabic or Kufic script

 

This one’s interesting because it was issued in conjunction with Tancred’s son Roger, whom he was attempting to ensure would gain the kingdom after him. Unfortunatly, Roger died before Tancred, leaving him to look to his next eldest, William (who would be deposed by Henry IV).

I actually just bought one of these, and had to think long and hard about whether it made my top ten list...

 

Congratulations on a great coin Chris. This is one of my absolute favorite designs which embodies in it everything I think about when I think medieval. I am very happy that you scored stevex6's coin as it deserved a caring home and I am certain you'll be a great custodian.

This may be your last purchase of the year but I'm somewhat certain it wont be your last coin of the year

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FRANCE, Provincial. Lorraine (duché).
Thiébaud II. 1303-1312. AR Double Denier (17mm, 1.02 g, 3h). Nancy mint.
Obv: +T DV X LOTOR ЄGIЄ, knight on caparisoned horse charging right; annulet stops
Rev: MOИЄTA D Є ИAИCЄI, sword flanked by eagles.
Ref: De Saulcy pl.III, 16; Boudeau 1456; Roberts –.
VF, toned, minor areas of weak strike.
Ex. CNG eAuction 373, Lot 509 (April 20, 2016)
Ex. eBay 10/26/2018

 

Thanks for the additional info @FitzNigel - I also enjoyed your top 10 list and the coins you shared from Tancred's relatives: William I, William II, and Frederick II.

While I don't have an example of your white whale - the Grossi of Venice are also favorite coins outside of my normal time period of interest. This is one of mine: a Balkan coin of the 14th century imitating a Venetian grosso of Francesco Dandolo the 52nd Doge from 1329-1339 2.2 grams and 21mm:

Obv: FRA. DANDVLO S. M. VENETI, St. Mark and the Doge standing facing, holding pendant flag between them, D / V / X in center field
Rev: IC | XC, Christ, nimbate (with halo), enthroned facing, holding book of Gospels

This is not my area of collecting, but I liked the weight, texture and design of this coin. I think this is unusual to have such clear, properly spelled legends, and good design, as well as full weight of 2.2g on a coin of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Interested if anyone knows more.

 

Afraid I don’t on the Bulgarian imitations (how can you tell in this case?). For the Venetian Coins, Alan Stahl wrote a very thorough book on the subject which used to be quite cheap (I haven’t looked at prices lately since I already own a copy...). My review of it is here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/fitzs-medieval-book-review.286343/page-3#post-2833914