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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 | Thin single-sided bracteate struck in hammered silver. The central field depicts a standing princely figure in frontal or three-quarter pose, rendered in a bold, archaic Romanesque style characteristic of Polish medieval coinage. The figure is dressed in a long robe or coat and appears to hold an object in one or both hands, possibly a sword or sceptre, indicating regal or ducal authority. A fragmentary Latin legend, partially legible as MIESZKO, runs along the inner border of the coin, interspersed with decorative elements. The flan is irregular and thin, typical of bracteate production of the Piast period. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse lettering | MIESZKO (incuse, fragmented) |
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| Additional information |
Mieszko III ruled Greater Poland twice — expelled by his own nobles in 1177, he spent decades maneuvering to reclaim power before finally dying in office in 1202. These thin bracteate deniers belong to that turbulent stretch of Piast fragmentation following Bolesław III's 1138 testament, which deliberately divided Poland among his sons and triggered over a century of dynastic infighting. The single-sided fabric was standard across fragmented Poland at this period, driven by limited silver stocks and simpler minting infrastructure at regional centers like Gniezno and Kalisz.