Catalog
Denier - Boleslaus I the Cruel
| Issuer | Kingdom of Bohemia |
|---|---|
| Year | 935-972 |
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| In circulation to | 1210 |
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| Obverse description | Central device depicting a stylized hand (manus) shown in full frontal view within a beaded inner circle, the fingers spread and rendered in bold relief characteristic of early medieval hammered coinage. The hand motif, a symbol of authority and sovereignty, dominates the flat field. Surrounding the inner circle is a circumferential legend in degenerate Latin capital letters, partially legible, interspersed with cross and star ornaments. The overall style is archaic and schematic, consistent with early Bohemian deniers of the mid-tenth century. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Boleslaus I came to power in 935 by ordering the assassination of his brother, Wenceslaus — later canonized as the patron saint of Bohemia. His coinage was among the earliest struck in the Bohemian lands, and Cach 28 sits at the opening of that series. Precisely who operated the mint, and under what degree of technical influence from Bavarian or Ottonian die-cutters, remains debated.
The reign dates span nearly four decades, making precise dating of individual pieces within the type essentially impossible by coin evidence alone.