Hungary, Andrew [Andreas] I (1046-1060) denar

Started by Manzikert, May 17, 2020, 12:36:57 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Manzikert

A recent acquisition: we don't seem to have anything of Andrew I in the index.

Hungary, Andrew [Andreas] I (1046-1060) denar
Obv: Cross with triple arms, + REX . ANDREAS round
Rev: Cross with circle in centre and wedges between arms, + PANONEIA round
0.43 gm, 14 mm, Huszar 9, Unger 9

Alan

Small change

This coin looks like it's been clipped. Even so, many of these denars throughout the centuries seem to be 0.4 to 0.5 g, yet Spufford claimed that the earliest coins were 0.75 to 1 g. So I'm wondering if anyone has seen enough Hungarian research to establish what the original standards were for the denar: the weight of the coining "pound", the number of coins struck per pound, fineness? No doubt weight and fineness coming out of the mints declined over the centuries, but it would be interesting to know more about the origin of the denar, aside from Spufford's "derived from the Bavarian pfennig"

Thanks,
Mike

Figleaf

ChatGPT: Early dénárs minted under Stephen I were relatively heavy, typically weighing between 1.2 and 1.5 grams of high-quality silver. Over time, however, the weight of the dénár decreased, mirroring broader trends in Europe where debasement became a tool for rulers to stretch their metal reserves further. By the later part of the 11th century, under kings like Ladislaus I (1077–1095), the weight of the Hungarian dénár had likely reduced to around 1 gram or slightly less.
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

Tirant

A great acquisition, great piece!

I agree, borders seem to habe been clipped a long, long time ago...

Manzikert

You're probably right Mike and Tirant, the one in Huszar has a three fine line border on the obverse, but mine only has traces of two at most.

Alan