AR denier, 20mm, 1.19gr. Obv: SANCHIVS, central cross. Rev: BVDEGAL, central degenerate monogram. Mint is Bordeaux. R4053; Boud 456 (10 as the rarity estimate); PdA 2711+; Dep 1006.

Comte de Saintes: Immobilized in the name of Louis IV
Fin de Xeme, debut de XIeme S.

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Billon denier, 22mm, 1.45gr. Obv: +LODOICVS, central cross. Rev: +SITCINAS, three central crosses. Mint is Saintes. R - ; Boud 450v; PdA 2704-5; Dup 989.

Bernard William (984-1010)

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Bill. denier, 21mm, 1.11gr. Obv: +GIVILIIMO, four central crosses. Rev: +BVRDEGIILA, central cross. Mint is Bordeaux. R4303v as BW; Boud 464 (as William X and common. He cites nothing close under BW); PdA 2735 as BW (closest match to legend); Dep 1020v (as William IX and X). The difficulty is that the size (21mm) argues for BW whose coins are larger than W IX and X (16mm) but those clearly identified as BW have a central besant.

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Bill denier, 19mm, 1.01gr. As above.

Raymond Berenger (1023-67)

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AR denier, 18mm, 1.22gr, Obv: BERINGARI, central cross. Rev: NARBONA C, 4 annulets. Mint is Narbonne. R4342; Boud 736 (25 as the rarity estimate);PdA 3749; Dep 1537.

Raymond Bernard (-1074)

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AR denier, 19mm, 1.27gr. Obv: +RAMVDN, central cross. Rev: +ALBIE CI, VICOC in the field. Mint is Albi. R4251; Boud 772 (2 as the rarity estimate); PdA 3894; Dep 1177v.

Raymond Bernard Successors (1074+)

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AR denier, 18mm, .94gr. Obv: Degenerate legend derived from +RAMVND, central monogram. Rev: Degenerate legend derived from ALBIECI, central cross. Mint is Albi. R4253; Boud 774; PdA 3899v (not clearly matched); Dup 1180.

Billon denier, 21mm, 1.47gr. Obv: +CIPVI+TATIS, central monogram. Rev: +CARCASONA, central cross. Mint is Carcassonne. R4233v (different monogram); PdA 3779v (different monogram); Dy 1513. Not in Boud.

AR denier, 19mm, 1.16gr. Obv: BERTRAN COM, central cross, besant in 4th quadrant. Rev: +TOLOSA CIVI, long footed cross between two besants. Mint is Toulouse. R4494; Boud 7115; PdA 3683; Dup 1220.

AR denier, 16mm, .57gr. Obv: +GVILELMO, four croisettes. Rev: +BVRGEGALA, central cross. Not clearly in R (see R4300s), Boudeau 464, Bel 803.

William X had a troubled reign as duke of Aquitaine, and was ultimately unsuccessful, in that he did not succeed in securing succession for his line. He faced dissention within his realm and fought an alliance of Hugh VII of Lusignan and the lord of Parthenay, only solved, in the short run, by the destruction of Parthenay, but at the cost of a long term foe. He picked the locally unpopular side in the schism of 1130 by siding with Roman Anacletus against local bishops of Limoges, Poitiers and other locales. His marriage to the Aenor, daughter of the viscount of Chatellerault resulted in two daughters, no sons. The oldest, Eleanor, married Louis VII but this marriage was ultimately annulled, on the grounds of consanguinity. Eleanor, in turn, married Henry II of England. Henry was welcomed in Aquitaine and their son, Richard, came ultimately to have control of Aquitaine. The duchy moved out of French hands into Angevin control. William died in 1137 while on a pilgrimage to Compostela in Spain. Source: Dunbabin, 341-2

AR denier, 18mm, .57 gr. Obv: +LODOICVS, horizontal S, central cross. Rev: EGOLISSIME, horizontal S's, very small central cross with four pellets. Mint: Angouleme. If 10th C, the coin was issued by the Comte' de Angouleme, Hugues le Noir (937-952), who controlled an area influenced by Louis IV, but over which he did not rule. Roberts 1804 (who indicates this coin as both contemporary with Louis IV and also as an immobilized coin). Roberts' image has a verical S on the obverse and his book does not show a 12th C immobilized version. MG 1646 as Louis IV or V (which shows a vertical S on the obverse, reverse image unclear); Dep 22 C1, 50 (6 examples) who also says it might be IV (but offers no image). Belaubre 821(who cites Poey d'Avant (1858-62) as an immobilized version from the second half of the 12th century). His image has the obverse and reverse S's horizontal.
     Yves Debroyer helpfully raised questions about this coin and its classification as a 10th C coin. The difficulty in identifying an immobilized coin is illustrated by these two similar, but different, coins from the CGB Monnaies V sale; items 781 and 782. The first is a denier from “COMTÉS D'ANGOULËME ET DE LA MARCHE - ANONYMES - (XIIème s.)” described “781. Denier anonyme, (XIIème-XIIIème siècles), c. 1180-1240, Angoulême, (Ar, 20 mm., 6 h., 0,98 g.). A/ +LODOICVS, S couchée. Croix. R/ + EGOLISSIME, S couchées, croix en forme de O cruciforme. Quatre annelets autour d'une croisette. Bd.446 - PA.2649 (57/3).” In this case Boudeau 446 pictures the coin with vertical S’s. CGB draws the connection to Louis IV. “Le type du droit est directement inspiré du monnayage de Louis IV d'Outremer. E. Caron faisait remarquer (op. cit., p. 147) que le type s'altère (became impaired) au XIIème siècle. Le poids descend sous le gramme. Le flan est parfois (sometimes) si mince (slim) que les annelets du revers donnent l'impression que la croix du droit est cantonnée de quatre besants comme sur notre exemplaire. Nous avons certainement affaire à un type de transition de la fin du XIIème siècle ou du début du XIIIème siècle au moment où les comtés d'Angoulème et de la Marche sont réunis." CGB notes the impression of the reverse is reflected on the obverse on the CGB coin but is not on mine. Note also the size differences between this coin and the coin on ths site. It is not clear if mine is later or earlier. The CGB explanation would probably be later, given the smaller size.
     The second coin is an obol, described “COMTÉS D'ANGOULÊME ET DE LA MARCHE - ANONYMES - (XIIème s.)  782. Obole, (XIIème-XIIIème siècles), c. 1180-1220, Angoulême, (Ar, 15,5 mm., 9 h., 0,46 g.). A/ + LODOICVS, S couchée. Croix.. R/ + EGOLISSIME, S couchées. Quatre annelets autour d'une croisette. Bd.447 (2f.) - PA. cf.2662 (57/5), les S au revers ne sont pas couches. Bd. 447 also has a vertical S on the obverse, making both citations inconsistent with the ‘S couchee,’ lying down, on the coin.
    So where does this stand? This coin has S’s on their side, similar to the CGB coins. However, the citations for the CGB coin, Boudeau and d’Avant indicate vertical S’s, even while classifying the CGB coins as immobilized. The MG image of Louis IV has a vertical S. Roberts identifies this as Louis IV, but immobilized to an uncertain timeframe. His image also has a vertical S on the obverse. At 18mm, this would be the smallest Carolingian denier on the site, smaller than the slightly larger but still small 19mm coin of Lothaire (see below). Size argues for a later coin than the CGB denier. Conclusion, strongly influenced by the low weight - immobilized.

Louis was son of Charles III by his second wife. He fled to England with his mother after his father was imprisoned by Herbert II of Vermandois. He married Gerberga of Saxony and they had two sons. He was succeeded by Lothar IV and his grandson Louis V was the last Carolingian.

When Raoul died without an heir, Hugh the Great, father of Hugh Capet, was instrumental is the restoration of the Carolingians, in the person of Louis d'Outremer (from across the sea). The territory over which Louis had direct rule was limited but the nobility initially pledged fealty to him. He subsequently fell out with his advocate Hugh the Great and they engaged in civil war. He was captured by Hugh and subsequently released, under papal pressure. He succeeded in reasserting control in Normandy. He died from injuries sustained in a hunting accident, at age 34. He was succeeded by his son Lothar IV, who ruled under the protection of Hugh the Great. (Source: Riche' 255-64.)

Bill denier, 18mm, .87gr. Obv: +LODOICVS, horizontal S, central cross. Rev: +EGOLISSIME, central cross, three annulets, one crescent. Mint is Angouleme. R4361 as 12-13th C La Marche; PdA 2663, Dup 947, not in Boud.

AR denier, 18mm, 1.06gr. Obv: RAMON COMES, central cross avec 'S' au 2e canton. Rev: TOLOSA CIVI, central monogram like the PAX monogram. Mint is Toulouse. R4226, Boudeau 721, Bel 888-96. Top coin: 19mm, 1.14gr.

The properties of Toulouse were scattered and presented a constant challenge to their rulers to consolidate and expand their territory. During these years Toulouse was pressured by the house of Barcelona over common interests in Provence. When Henry II of England assumed control of Aquitaine, as a result of his own strength and an alliance with Barcelona, he pressured Raymond V such that Raymond was forced to recognize Angevin overlordship in 1173. Raymond sought relative independence by turning to France and married Constance, the sister of  Louis VII. While the marriage floundered, the alliance did not and Raymond substituted French meddling for English in his kingdom. He subsequently married Richilda of Provence and they had four children. His heir was his son Raymond VI, who died in 1222. He had tangled alliances with the Papacy, also leading to long tem complications for his house. Raymond sought an alliance and was ceded the county of Melgueil in 1171, which gave him some control over its currency, the most widely circulated in Toulouse. The coinage of Raymond V circulated broadly, including into the Levant during the Crusades. Source: Dunbabin,  299-304.

AR denier, 19mm, 1.01g. Obv: +_BARCINO, central cross with long leg braked by 'o.' Rev: CI - VI - RE - :X:, long cross. Mint is Barcelona. R4493; Boud 627. From CGB Monnaies VII #746 "Au XIXe siècle, cette monnaie était très rare. La légende qui commence au droit et se termine au revers peut se traduire par Barcelone ville du roi. Pour A. Heiss, la fabrication de ce type ne commençait pas avant 1180. En fait, le privilège monétaire fut accordé en 1173 et la fabrication débuta l'année suivante."

From CGB "Alphonse d'Aragon (1152-1196) est le fils de Raymond-Béranger, comte de Barcelone et de Pétronille, reine d'Aragon. Alphonse d'Aragon devint roi d'Aragon en 1162. En 1174, il épousa Sancie (1154-1208), la fille d'Alphonse VII de Castille. Après la mort de Raymond-Béranger, son frère, comte de Provence hérita de ses possessions. À sa mort en 1196, son fils Pierre II (1176-1213) hérita du trône d'Aragon tandis que son autre fils devenait comte de Provence sous le nom d'Alphonse II .

Alphonse of France (1249-1271)

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AR denier, 19mm, 1.22gr. Obv: +ALFVNSVS COMS, central cross. Rev: PICTAVIENTSIS, central chattel tournois. Mint is Poitou. R5201; Boud 431 as argent; PdA 2583 as billon; Dy 931.

The "of France" in his title means he was of royal descent. His father was Louis VIII and mother was Blanche of Castile. His paternal grandparents were Philip II "Auguste" and Isabelle of Hainault. His maternal grandparents were Alphonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of Anjou. His brother ruled as Louis IX (St. Louis). He was born in Paris 11/11/1220 and was titled comte of Poitiers (an apanage from his brother), comte of  Toulouse and marguisate of Provence (inherited from his father in law) and duc d'Auvergne. He married Jeanne of Toulouse (daughter of Raymond VII) in 1249. Both died within days of each other in 1271 (he on 21 August) at Corneto Castle near Sienna, Italy. Since there was no heir his lands and titled reverted to the French crown, in the person of Philip III. Source: B. Stewart web site and CGB.

Bishops of Cahors: 12 -13th C

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Bill denier, 16mm, .91gr. Obv: +CATVRCIS, central cross. Rev: +CIVITAS, central design. Mint is Cahors. R4662v. His reverse field is similar to this but has an alpha on the bottom, whereas this has opposing arrow points. Boud 781-2v; PdA 3920v, plate 87:15, similar to Roberts, not this reverse.

AR denier, 19mm, .925gr. Obv: IWVIVWC, retrograde C, central cross. Rev: AM-M-CI, central monogram. Mint is Albi. R4253; Boud 774v; PdA 3898; Dup 1180.

Archbishops of Arles

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 Billon obole, 15mm, .48gr. Obv: +ARECHIEPI, central shepherd's crook. Rev: oARELATENo, cross with long leg. Mint is Arles. R4677; Boud 794; PdA 4087.

Thibaut II of Navarre (1234-1253, also Thibaut IV of Champagne)

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Denier, 20mm, 1.0gr. Obv: :TIOBALD'REX, central cross. Rev: :-DE NAVARIE, central chatel with three towers (legend starts at 3 o'clock). R4697; Boud 558 (as AR, rarity = 15); PdA 3331 (as Billon); Dup 1351.

Charles le Mauvais (1349-1387)

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Billon denier tournois, 17mm, 1.31gr. Obv: +KAROLVS REX, central cross. Rev: +DE NAVARRE, central chatel. Mint is Evreux. R5237; Boud 566 (rarity = 10); Dup 48 who places the minting at the end of 1348 (ordance of 31 Octobre 1348); PdA 191.