Vicomtes of Limoges 11th C
Eudes imitative

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 Limousin-Poitou-Bourges
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 Anon Bourges: Immobilized in the name of Lothaire

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Billon denier, 23mm, 1.31gr. Obv: +   LOTERIVS REX, central cross. Rev: +BITVRICES CIVIT, central degenerate monogram. Mint is Bourges. R -; Boud 266; PdA 1911 XL-11; Dumas 8361-8372. In her twelve examples, the weights range from 1.49 to 1.33, just above that of this coin. Given its dimension, this is a grand denier. Dup -. The monogram is a bungled KRLS. Being represented in Dumas this style of coin dates from the later 10th C,and probably continued into the 11th.

Vicomtes of Limoges 10th Century
Eudes (887-898) imitative

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AR denier, 24mm, 1.71gr. Obv: +GRATIA D-I REX, central O+D+O. Rev: +LIMOVICA CIVIS, central cross. Immobilized Eudes type. The size argues for 10th C. Mint is Limoges. R4322; Boud 388 (rarity 4); PdA 2275 L-13 matches monogram and legend, with weight of 1.52. His 2276 has a weight of 1.7 but the obverse legends ends DE. Dup 844 as end of the 10th and start of the 11th centuries. Dumas 8458-8462. She cites five examples with weights between 1.52 and 1.36.  In her other Fecamp coins the high Limoges weight is 1.64. The size of the Fecamp coins is consistently 22mm. These are large coins by Fecamp standards. Dumas cites the Cuerdale hoard found in Lancashire England and laid down between 903 - 910. That hoard cites Limoges Eudes' coins weighing up to 1.81 grams. What makes this immobilized rather than a contemporary coin of Eudes? After all, by weight it falls clearly in the realm of Eude's contemporary coins. For example, see MG weights for 1332 - 1333 which commonly have coins weighing 1.7 grams. Likewise it matches to contemporary legends. Two factors argue for a later immobilization. The first is size. At 24 mm this coin is larger than the typical Carolingian coin and larger than the contemporary Limoges coins (22 mm.) I find. The second factor is the less precise monogram, compared to other images I've seen. The central D is less clear, as are the stylized Os. It is very well struck. Eudes' successors - Raoul, Louis IV and Lothaire did not have their own coinage struck at Limoges. Given the continuing needs for circulating money, Limoges continued to make coinage in the style of the last royal coinage they minted. This style of coinage continued to be minted through the 10th century, as evident from Cuerdale and Fecamp. My best sense is that this particular coin is 10th century.

AR denier, 21mm, 1.22gr. Obv: +CIATIA D-I IE, central open cross. Rev: +LIM+VICVS, central cross. Immobilized Eudes type 1020 - 1100. Mint is Limoges.  This, and the following two coins, catologue similarly and have minor differences. R4323; Boud 389; PdA 2284; Dup 847.

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AR denier, 22mm, 1.18gr. As above.

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AR denier, 20mm, 1.06gr. As above.

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AR denier, 21mm, 1.07gr. Obv: +CIATIA D-I IE, central degenerate legend (name, cross). Rev: +LIM+VI CA(no cross bar)SCVS, central cross with four besants. Mint is Limoges. R4323; PdA 2279v who indicates that this type persisted until the end of the 11th C; Boud 389; Dup 847.

Denier, 18mm, .89gr. Obv: VGO COMES, central cross. Rev: +MARCHIE, central cross surrounded by crescents and two annulets. R4363, Boud 437 (Boudeau indicates VGO COMES as reverse).

He is the son of Hugues VIII 'le Brun' (~1118-1165) and Bourgogne de Rancon (Dame of Fontenay) (~1120 - ?). He married Mathilde of Taillefer (~1165 - ~1233). Their son, Hugues X, succeeded him. Hugues X ended up marrying the widow of John Lackland and died in Surrey in 1249. Hugues IX died on crusade. His family played an important role outside of France as crusader knights and kings, including a period as rulers of Cyprus. Source: Tanner CME 308-20, Doug Bingham online.

The house of Lusignan was an influential family on the borders between French and English controlled lands. This was a time when feudal alliances shifted between England and France, and shifted among neighbors. For example, after Hugues became count of La Marche, he ultimately reconciled with the duc of Angouleme (also a claimant for those lands and title) and in 1200 was promised the daughter of the duc (Isabelle) for his son (to be Hugues X). John of England instead married Isabelle, pushing the house of Lusignan into an alliance with Philip Augustus that ultimately drove John from his Angevin holdings. By 1214 circumstances had changed and Hugues offered John fealty and John offered his daughter as a bride for Hugues X. As it turned out, John died, leaving Isabelle a widow who in turned married her original betrothed, Hugues X. Source: Tanner, CME VI 1964, 308-320.

Hugues X was responsible for the building of the impressive fortress at Crozant, at the confluence of the Creuse and Sedelle. The strategic nature of the site is evident in the first image. There were six round towers facing the Creuse and four facing the Sedelle. Hugues and his wife Isabelle of Angouleme revolted against Blanche of Castille and then Louis IX. Hugues and Richard III lost to Louis IX at the battle of Saintes in 1242 and the castle became a royal possession, with the maintenance burden falling on Hugues. The fortress withstood a siege by the Black Price during the Hundred Years War, changed hands several times later on and was finally confiscated by Louis XI as a royal possession. It suffered during the wars of religion and an earthquake in 1606. It is a ruin today, undergoing some restoration. The second image shows the fortress today.

Hugues XI, comte de la Marche (1249-60)

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Bill Denier, 18mm, 1.10gr. Obv: +VGO COMES MAR, horizontal S, central CIE, two croisants. Rev: +LODOICVS ENGOL, central cross. Dup 963; Boud 438; PdA 2615 as Hugues X (1209-49).

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.

AR obol, 16mm, .44gr. Obv: CARLVS REX, central cross. Rev: MEL/ALO/+. Mint is (most likely) Poitiers. R 3877; Boud 414 who suggests 11-12th C.

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AR obol 17mm, .51gr. Obv: +CARLVS REX, central cross. Rev: MET/./ALO/+. Mint is (most likely) Poitiers. R 3877; Boud 414.

AR denier, 19mm, 1.18gr. Obv: S MARCIAL, central bust. Rev: +LEMOVICEMSIS, central cross with two dots in each quadrant. Mint is Limoges. R4912; Boud 390; PdA 2291 (as bill and cites weights < 1gr.); Dup 884.