Catalog
Denier - Charlemagne Narbonne mint
| Issuer | Unified Carolingian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 768-771 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by a large stylized cross composed of interlocking triangular and lozenge-shaped elements, creating a bold geometric pattern characteristic of early Carolingian die-cutting. The letters of the royal name CARLVS are distributed across the four quadrants formed by the cross, rendered in angular, somewhat irregular Latin capital characters. The flan is slightly uneven and irregular at the periphery, consistent with hand-hammered silver coinage of the period. The overall design reflects the transitional artistic idiom of the early Carolingian monetary reform, combining Roman epigraphic tradition with Frankish stylization. No beaded or linear border is clearly present. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays the mint abbreviation NRB, standing for Narbonne, arranged within the quadrants of a prominent double-lined cross that divides the field into four sections. A cross pattée or ornamental crosslet terminates the legend, serving both as a punctuation mark and a devotional symbol. The lettering is boldly executed in angular Latin capitals, consistent in style with the obverse, though showing the irregularities typical of hand-engraved early medieval dies. Small pellets are visible in the peripheral field, likely remnants of a beaded border or incidental die decoration. The overall composition reflects the standard Carolingian denier type associated with the mint of Narbonne under Charlemagne's earliest regal issues. |
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