Normandy (943-96) denier

from the Stack's Bowers 2024 ANA sale, lot 45834

This specimen was lot 45834 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $480. The catalog description^[1] noted, "FRANCE. Denier, ND (943-996). Rouen Mint. Richard I. NGC MS-64." Richard, grandson of the Viking freebooter Rollo, was count of Rouen and later duke of Normandy. His successors were Richard II (996-1026), Richard III (1026-27), Robert I (1027-35) and most famously William II "the Conqueror" (1035-87). The obverse legend is RICARDVS I and the reverse legend is ROTOMΛGVS CVS (city of Rouen). Roberts^[2] lists several deniers for this ruler but not this one.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: silver, this specimen 1.12 g.

Catalog reference: Roberts-Unlisted; LeGros-192.

Source:

• ^[2]Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
• ^[1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Link to:

• (864-77) denier, palace mint, Charles the Bald, "GRATIA D-I REX"
• (887-898) denier, Blois mint, Odo I
• Coins and currency dated 943
• return to French royal coinage (to 1793)