Denier Bracteate

Historical Context: The Denier Bracteate from the Abbey of Lindau, struck 1185-1200, hails from the High Middle Ages. This Imperial Abbey, an ecclesiastical principality led by an abbess, held significant autonomy within the Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Empire. Exercising regalian rights, including coinage, this bracteate signifies the abbey's economic independence and regional commerce. It functioned as a primary medium of exchange, often subject to annual renewal (Renovatio Monetae), reflecting its status.

Artistry: Artistically, this bracteate exemplifies the Romanesque style common in twelfth-century Germanic coinage. The anonymous engraver's design was impressed onto a thin silver flan, creating a high-relief obverse and an incuse reverse. Lindau issues typically feature an ecclesiastical bust, often a mitred abbess, or a stylized abbey church or patron saint. These motifs, rendered with robust, simplified forms characteristic of the era, utilize the wide flan to emphasize central imagery.

Technical/Grading: This Lindau Denier Bracteate presents unique challenges due to its extremely thin silver flan (0.50 gg). High-points, such as the highest relief elements of a bust or architectural features, frequently appear weak, worn, or exhibit planchet stress. Common technical strike qualities include irregular flan