Denier bractéate - Gertrude et roi Frédéric I

Historical Context: This Denier bractéate, issued in 1188 by the Women's Abbey of Eschwege, exemplifies medieval German ecclesiastical coinage. It features Abbess Gertrude alongside Emperor Frederick I, Barbarossa, a powerful figure of the Holy Roman Empire. This joint depiction underscores the abbey's imperial immediacy and its privileged status under direct imperial protection, a common practice among powerful religious institutions to affirm their autonomy and legitimacy through the emperor's suzerainty.

Artistry: Characteristic of the Romanesque stylistic school, the coin's design, likely by an anonymous mint master, is a singular, large-scale composition typical of bracteates. The impressive 46mm diameter for its meager 0.83g weight suggests an extremely thin flan, allowing for a broad, intricate design. It presumably depicts the busts of Abbess Gertrude, perhaps with an crozier, and Emperor Frederick I, likely crowned, rendered in a highly stylized manner emphasizing symbolic authority.

Technical/Grading: As a bracteate, this coin's single-sided strike typically results in a faint incuse impression on the reverse. The extremely thin silver flan, necessitated by its large diameter, made it highly susceptible to damage. Key high-points for grading include the emperor's crown, the abbess's headwear, and facial features, which are often the first areas to exhibit wear, creasing, or tearing. A well-preserved example would show full detail retention across the wide flan with minimal cracking or folding, indicating a careful and even strike.