Denier anonymous

Denier anonymous - obverseDenier anonymous - reverse

© Quiquengrogne

Features

Issuer Abbey of Saint Martial (French States)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 1106-1245
Value 1 Denier (1⁄240)
Currency Livre
Composition Billon
Weight 0.91 g
Diameter 19.5 mm
Shape Round (irregular)
Technique Hammered
Orientation Variable alignment ↺
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
56139
References PA# 2291 ; 2296 ; 2298,
Faustin Poey d'Avant; 1858. Monnaies féodales de France / Tome 1. Anjou, Auvergne, Berri, Bourbonnais, Bretagne, France, Limousin, Maine, Nivernais, Normandie, Perche, Touraine, Velay. Rollin et Feuardent, Paris, France.
And 2 more volumes.
Dy féodales# 883-884 ; 886-893,
Jean Duplessy; 2004. Les monnaies françaises féodales / Tome 1. Maison Platt, Paris, France.
And 1 more volumes.
Boudeau# 390
Émile Boudeau; 2002. Catalogue général illustré et à prix marqués des monnaies françaises provinciales (4th edition). Les Chevau-Légers, Paris, France.

Obverse

Bearded portrait of St Martial in an inner circle, legend around starting 19h.

Script: Latin

Lettering: SES • MARCIAL

Unabridged legend: Sanctus Marcial

Translation: Saint Martial.

Reverse

Cross with 4 pairs of dots within an inner circle, legend around.

Script: Latin

Lettering: ✠ LEMOVICENSIS

Unabridged legend: Lemovicensis

Translation: [Denier] of Limoges.

Mint

Limoges, France (?-1837)

Comments

Variant with barred "L":


First mentioned ("Lemovicensis barbata moneta") in a document dated 1106 (cf. Henri Hugon, p. 80-93), the "barbarin" was inspired by the denarius of Saint-Mayeul de Souvigny in Bourbonnais. It took its name from the bearded head of Saint Martial which was imprinted on it; it enjoyed great popularity and was minted until around 1245.

On the right, the "E" in "SES" is in fact a square C, the vertical bar of which is crossed out horizontally to form a cross and thus abbreviate the word. This type of abbreviation is also found, among others, on the denarii of the bishopric of Clermont, which also feature a frontal bust.

Three groups of barbarine denarii can be identified from the various treasures unearthed: denarii with the legend SES MARCIAL, those with the legend S MARTIAL and those with the cross cantoned by various symbols (star and G in particular). The G barbarin is attributed to Viscount Gui V (1199-1230), who had barbarins minted at his château in Aixe-sur-Vienne in 1211.

The varieties are numerous: on the right, the effigy of the saint (face more or less elongated, position of hair, length of beard), the width of the bust, accosted or not, etc. On the reverse, the simple or pearled cross, with different combinations in the number and positioning of the canting rings.

Limousin finds containing Saint-Martial coins:
- Argentat (19): the largest with 1960 barbarins;
- Peyrat-le-Château (87): composed entirely of barbarins (1500);
- Droux (87);
- Folles (87): 88 barbarians;
- Montheil (87): 88 barbarians;
- Nontron (24): 469 barbarians;
- Nedde (87) etc...Automatically translated

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (1106-1245)  (fr) S • MARCIAL • (Bd#390, PA#2291).
ND (1106-1245)  (fr) S MARCIAL // Croix cantonnée au 1 ou au 2 d'une étoile à 5 (DyF#892), 6 (DyF#890) ou 8 rais (DyF#892B) - Bd#393.
ND (1106-1245)  (fr) S MARCIAL, buste accosté de deux annelets // Croix cantonnée de deux annelets au 2 et au 3, et d'un oméga appendu au centre au 1 et au 4 (DyF#894).
ND (1106-1245)  (fr) SES MARCIAL, buste accosté de deux annelets // Croix perlée cantonnée au 1 d'une étoile à 6 rais (DyF#893, Bd#393).
ND (1106-1245)  (fr) ഗ MARCIAL (DyF#884).
ND (1106-1245)  (fr) ഗIഗ MARCIAL (DyF#883 var., Bd#392, PA#2293-2298).
ND (1106-1245)  Crossed L
ND (1106-1245)  Crossed L and dot under 10th character
ND (1106-1245)  Uncrossed L
ND (1106-1245) point 10èm Uncrossed L and dot under 10th character

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