France (814-40) denier
The first specimen was lot 4976 in Künker sale 441 (Osnabrück, March 2026), where it sold for €850 (about US$1,169 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"FRANKREICH/KAROLINGER, Ludwig der Fromme, 814-840. Denar, Melle. + HLVDOVVICVS IMP Kreuz//META / LLVM. Herrliche Patina, vorzüglich. Aus der Sammlung Jürgen und Erika Schmidt, Bovenden. Exemplar der Sammlung Bernhard Schwartz, Auktion Alde, Paris 18. Juni 2009, Nr. 108 und der Auktion Fritz Rudolf Künker 323, Osnabrück 2019, Nr. 2039. (kingdom of France, Louis the Pious, 814-840, denier, Melle mint. Superb patina, extremely fine.)"
The second specimen was lot 45402 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $414.80. The catalog description[2] noted, "FRANCE. Carolingian. Denier, ND (814-840). Louis The Pious. NGC EF-40. From the Ray Garrison Collection." Louis the Pious considered himself emperor and king of the Franks, not king of France. He ruled northern Italy, Switzerland, west Germany and the Low Countries as well as Gaul. Hoard finds have made this coin somewhat available.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.7 g, silver, 20 mm diameter, the first specimen 1,79 g, the second specimen is 1.56 g.
Catalog reference: the first specimen Roberts-1111, M./G. 398; Depeyrot 609. The second specimen is Depeyrot-1179; Roberts-1208.
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Frühjahrs-Auktion 441: Orders and Decorations from the Estate of Wilhelm, Duke of Bavaria (1752–1837), among others | Coins and Medals from the Middle Ages and Modern times, particularly Denmark, Habsburg, Norway, and Saxony, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2026.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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