Papal States (875-877) denaro
This specimen was lot 1251 in Künker sale 403 (Osnabrück, March 2024), where it sold for €2,200 (about US$2,887 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted,
"PAPST JOHANNES VIII. UND KAISER KARL DER KAHLE, 875-877. Denaro, Rom. + KAROLVS [IMP], im Feld Monogramm IOHANS//SCS - PETRVS Brustbild des Heiligen Petrus halbl. Mit Kreuzstab in der Rechten, auf der Brust Schlüssel. R Fast vorzüglich. Exemplar der Slg. Klaus Bronny, Auktion Münzen & Medaillen Deutschland 26, Stuttgart 2008, Nr. 4. Die Zuweisung dieses attraktiven Denars an Karl den Kahlen (875-877) oder Karl III. (881-882) ist nicht zweifelsfrei möglich. (Papal States, pope John VIII and Charles the Bald, 875-877, denarius, Rome mint. Obverse: monograms of Charles and John; reverse: half length bust of St. Peter with cross and key. Rare, about extremely fine. The attribution of this attractive denarius to Charles the Bald (875-877) or Charles III (881-882) is not possible with certainty.)"
This denaro or silver penny belongs to the Dark Ages, when barbarians roamed Europe, pillaging and burning. Wikipedia comments, "Pope John VIII (died 16 December 882) was the bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 14 December 872 to his death. He is often considered one of the ablest popes of the 9th century. John devoted much of his papacy attempting to halt and reverse the Muslim gains in southern Italy and their march northwards. When his efforts to obtain assistance from either the Franks or the Byzantines failed, John strengthened the defences of Rome. ...John's pontificate ended with his assassination, and the papacy became significantly weaker in the aftermath."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 1,22 g.
Catalog reference: Berman 36; Muntoni 2; Toffanin 47 (R).
- Berman, Allen G., Papal Coins, South Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1991.
- Francesco Muntoni, Le Monete del Papi e Degli Stati Pontifici, 4 vols. Rome: P & P Santamaria, 1973.
- [1]Künker, Fritz Rudolf, Horst-Rudiger Künker, Ulrich Künker and Andreas Kaiser, Katalog 403: Coins and Medals of the Popes - The significant collection of a southwest German entrepreneur, Osnabrück: Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co., AG, 2024.
Link to: