1 Pfennig - Albert I

Historical Context: This 1 Pfennig coin was issued by Albert I, Bishop of Regensburg, during his episcopate from 1247 to 1260. This period coincides with the tumultuous Interregnum in the Holy Roman Empire, a time of significant imperial weakness following Frederick II's death. Such political fragmentation empowered ecclesiastical princes like Albert, allowing them to assert their temporal authority, including the crucial right of coinage (Münzrecht). The Pfennig, a ubiquitous silver denomination, facilitated local commerce within the Bishopric, underscoring its economic autonomy and sovereign status amidst a decentralized empire. The specified weight of 0.80 gg reflects regional monetary standards or debasement common during this era of instability.

Artistry: Attribution to a specific engraver for 13th-century Regensburg pfennigs is not feasible, as individual mint masters rarely signed their dies. Stylistically, the coin exemplifies the transition from late Romanesque to early Gothic numismatic art in Southern Germany. Designs typically feature a highly stylized, mitered bust of the bishop (or occasionally St. Peter, the cathedral's patron saint) on the obverse, often depicted frontally with minimal detail, prioritizing symbolic representation over naturalism. The reverse commonly bears a simple cross or an ecclesiastical emblem, executed with robust, albeit often crude, lines reflective of the practical demands of medieval minting techniques.

Technical/Grading: For this 1 Pfennig type (Em Reg#237), critical high-points for assessing grade include the raised details of the bishop's miter, nose, and any facial features on the obverse. On the reverse, the central intersection and ends of the cross, along with any small symbols in the cantons, are highly susceptible to early wear. Given the typical strike quality of medieval pfennigs, often irregular and off-center on broad, thin flans (17.2 mm, 0.80 gg), a strong, centered strike with full details, especially of the legend (if present), would elevate its rarity significantly. Minor planchet imperfections or double striking are common and contextual to the era.