Catalog
Denier - Burkhard von Fenis
| Issuer | Bishopric of Basel |
|---|---|
| Year | 1072-1107 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Reverse description | A highly stylized schematic representation of a church or cathedral facade occupies the central field, depicted in the primitive Romanesque manner typical of 11th-century episcopal bracteate-related coinage. The architectural motif features rounded towers or turrets suggested by pellet and arc elements, rendered in coarse but deliberate relief. The design conveys the ecclesiastical authority of the Bishop of Basel without figurative detail, relying on symbolic architectural shorthand. The flan edges are irregular and show typical hammered planchet characteristics. No legend is present on the reverse. |
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| Mint | Basel |
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| Additional information |
Burkhard von Fenis served as Bishop of Basel during the height of the Investiture Controversy, the protracted conflict between the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire over the right to appoint church officials. He aligned firmly with the imperial side, supporting Henry IV — including during the period following Canossa — which placed Basel squarely within the political fault lines of the age. Episcopal coinage from this diocese in these decades was as much a political declaration as a monetary instrument.
At 0.52g, these deniers sit at the lighter end of contemporary Rhenish episcopal issues, a weight reduction likely reflecting broader debasement pressures across the Upper Rhine region during the late eleventh century.