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Denier Bracteate - Leszek the White Kraków mint
| Issuer | Duchy of Kraków |
|---|---|
| Year | 1194-1227 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | A centrally placed ornate cross with four arms radiating outward, each arm terminating in a fleur-de-lis or foliate finial, dividing the field into four quadrants. At the center of the cross, a raised annulet or rosette device with a central pellet is flanked by small pellets along the arms. Each quadrant contains a stylized animal figure in profile, likely eagles or birds with wings partially spread, rendered in a bold, archaic relief characteristic of early Polish bracteate coinage. The entire design is enclosed within a raised circular border, with the characteristic concave dish-shaped flan typical of the bracteate striking technique. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Leszek the White's tenure as Duke of Kraków was repeatedly interrupted — he was expelled from the duchy twice, first in 1202 and again in 1210, before reclaiming it definitively. Bracteates of this period are among the thinnest coinages produced in medieval Europe, struck on a single die against a soft substrate, which is why so few survive without creasing or fragmentation. The Kraków mint operated under conditions of constant political instability throughout his reign, and attributions to specific issuing moments within his rule remain contested.