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Denier Bracteate - Mieszko III the Old Gniezno or Kalisz mint
| Issuer | Duchy of Greater Poland |
|---|---|
| Year | 1138-1202 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | As a bracteate, the reverse presents the incuse mirror image of the obverse design, a characteristic feature of this single-die hammering technique. The relief of the obverse motif appears sunken on the reverse, with the schematic figural composition and pellet ornamentation visible in negative. The thin silver flan shows slight cracking at the edges, consistent with the fragile nature of bracteate flans produced in medieval Polish mints. The raised border visible on the obverse corresponds to a recessed channel on the reverse. No independent design or legend was applied to this face. |
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| Mint | Gniezno or Kalisz mint |
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| Additional information |
Mieszko III ruled Greater Poland twice — expelled by his own nobles in 1177, he spent decades in political exile before reclaiming his position, a dynastic instability that makes attributing his bracteate issues to specific mints genuinely difficult. Gniezno and Kalisz both served as administrative centers during his reign, and the scholarly debate over which produced Kop#84 remains unresolved.
At 0.13 g, these pieces were struck on foil-thin flans, making survival in any condition remarkable. Polish bracteates of this period were never intended for longevity — they were subject to periodic exchange mandates requiring holders to surrender old coinage for newly issued pieces at a loss, a fiscal mechanism that effectively taxed the population through currency replacement.