Denier - Conrad II Minden mint

Conrad II came to the imperial throne in 1024 as the first Salian emperor, ending the Ottonian line. The Minden bishopric held minting rights as an imperial grant, and production at that see reflects the decentralized character of Salian monetary policy — authority delegated to ecclesiastical lords who struck in the emperor's name but managed output locally. Survival rates for Rhenish and Westphalian deniers of this period are poor; most circulated hard through a regional economy dominated by tribute payments and church dues.