Venice (819-22) denaro
The first specimen was lot 42381 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2026), where it sold for $1,560. The catalog description[1] noted, "ITALY. Venice. Denaro, ND (819-22). Venice Mint. Ludovico I. PCGS MS-61. Offering an amber-gunmetal gray hue with some alluring hints of olive, this Mint State specimen presents a well centered and highly appealing strike that delights the eye. A great Carolingian issue with crossover appeal for the collectors of medieval French. From the John P. Burnham Collection." The second specimen was lot 4978 in Künker sale 441 (Osnabrück, March 2026), where it sold for €1,000 (about US$1,376 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted,
"FRANKREICH/KAROLINGER, Ludwig der Fromme, 814-840. Denar 819/822, Venedig. + HLVDOVVICVS IMP Kreuz//+ VEN / ECIAS. Prachtexemplar. Feine Patina, vorzüglich. Aus der Sammlung Jürgen und Erika Schmidt, Bovenden. Exemplar der Auktion Classical Numismatic Group 60, Lancaster 2002, Nr. 2135 und der Slg. eines Ästheten, eLive Premium Auction Fritz Rudolf Künker 360, Januar 2022, Nr. 1006. (kingdom of France, Louis the Pious, 814-840, denier, circa 819-22, Venice mint. Obverse: cross; reverse: VENECIAS. Fine patina, extremely fine.)"
One lira was 240 denari. Ludovicus I (written "HLVDOVVICVS IMP" on the reverse) refers to Louis the Pious, king of the Franks 813-40. The actual doge (the tenth to hold the title) was Agnello Participazio (r. 811-27). This coin was issued centuries before the introduction of the Venetian ducat. 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. Venice was not the only Italian mint to strike coins for him; other Italian issues included Benevento, Lucca, Milan, Pavia and Treviso.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1.7 g, silver, 20 mm diameter, this specmen 1,54 g.
Catalog reference: Roberts-1158, M./G. 456; Depeyrot 1116 D; Biaggi 2746 (R2).
- Roberts, James N., The Silver Coins of Medieval France (476-1610 AD), S. Salem, NY: Attic Books, 1996.
- Rafaele Paolucci, La Zecca di Venezia, 2 vols. Padua, 1991.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, January 2026 NYINC Showcase Auction, Ancient and World Coins, featuring the Kazmier Wysocki Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
- [2]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.
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