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Denier Bracteate - Mieszko III the Old Gniezno or Kalisz mint
| Issuer | Greater Poland, Duchy of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1138-1202 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Denier |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Facing bust of the ruler, rendered in a schematic, archaic style typical of early Polish medieval bracteates, enclosed within a square beaded inner frame. The effigy depicts a frontal portrait with simplified facial features, wearing a diadem or crown indicated by a cross above the head. The square frame is itself surrounded by an outer beaded border following the irregular round flan. The overall composition is characteristic of the Gniezno or Kalisz minting tradition under Mieszko III the Old, with a rough yet expressive artistic execution. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (1138-1202) |
| Additional information |
Mieszko III ruled Greater Poland twice — expelled by his own nobles in 1177, he spent years in exile before reclaiming power, a dynastic instability that directly shaped the fragmentary nature of his coinage. Bracteates of this type were struck on thin, single-sided flans precisely because the technology allowed rapid, low-cost production suited to a fragmented Piast realm where mint authority shifted with political fortune.
Kop#87 attributions to either Gniezno or Kalisz reflect genuine scholarly uncertainty — both mints were active under Mieszko, and die evidence has not conclusively separated their output.