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Denier - Berengar I first coinage, as king
| Issuer | Italy, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 888-889 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Denier (1⁄240) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | Central field depicts a stylised temple or church façade rendered with four columns supporting a gabled roof, with a cross rising from the apex, a design ultimately derived from the Carolingian palace or temple type. The architectural motif is enclosed within a beaded inner circle. The surrounding annular legend reads + XDITIANA RELIGIO in raised Latin capitals, proclaiming the Christian faith. The reverse type, combining ecclesiastical architecture with the cross, reflects the close alliance between royal authority and the Church in the Carolingian tradition. |
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| Additional information |
Berengar I was crowned King of Italy at Pavia in late 888, immediately following the deposition of Charles the Fat — a period when Carolingian authority over the Italian kingdom had effectively collapsed. This first coinage reflects that transitional moment: Berengar was asserting royal legitimacy from Pavia's mint before any serious consolidation of his position, which would be challenged almost continuously by rival claimants for the next three decades.
The Pavia mint had been the principal royal issuing authority in the Italian kingdom since the Lombard period, a continuity Berengar was politically invested in maintaining.