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Denier Bracteate - Mieszko III the Old Gniezno or Kalisz mint
| Issuer | Greater Poland, Duchy of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1138-1202 |
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| Composition | Silver |
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| Obverse description | Single-sided bracteate strike depicting a stylized eagle displayed in the central field, rendered in the primitive Romanesque manner characteristic of 12th-century Polish coinage. The bird is shown with wings spread and head turned, executed with bold, schematic lines typical of the hammered bracteate technique. A partial inscription in archaic Latin characters appears to the right of the eagle figure, partially legible within the field. The design is enclosed within a dotted border running along the inner edge of the thin, irregularly shaped flan. The overall style reflects the crude but expressive artistic conventions of the Piast dynasty minting tradition. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (1138-1202) |
| Additional information |
Mieszko III ruled — and was repeatedly expelled from — the Duchy of Greater Poland across a reign that was anything but continuous. Deposed from the senior Piast position in 1177, he spent decades reclaiming territories piecemeal, which makes precise attribution of his bracteate issues genuinely difficult. The thin hammered fabric of bracteate coinage was never intended for long circulation; these were largely used for tribute payments and ecclesiastical transactions rather than everyday commerce.
The Gniezno or Kalisz attribution reflects unresolved scholarly debate. Both cities held administrative and ecclesiastical weight under Mieszko, and die evidence alone has not settled the question.