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Denier - Henry II Jasomirgott
| Issuer | Duchy of Austria (Austrian States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1156-1177 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Facing head, possibly a saintly or regal effigy (identified by some authorities as the head of St. John), adorned with a crest, set within a double-row beaded frame accompanied by four crosses in the angles. The central design is enclosed by a pearl wreath; the outer border features a secondary wreath composed of RR motifs alongside a false or degenerate inscription of no legible meaning, characteristic of Austrian bracteate-related coinage of the period. |
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| Reverse description | A rampant Bavarian lion with upraised tail depicted in a bold, stylized heraldic manner, enclosed within a double pearl circle. The surrounding field is decorated with rosettes evenly distributed in the outer border, a decorative device typical of mid-12th-century Austrian hammered deniers. The design reflects the dynastic connection of Henry II Jasomirgott to the Wittelsbach tradition prior to the formal separation of Austria and Bavaria. |
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| Additional information |
Henry II acquired Austria through one of medieval Europe's more calculated diplomatic settlements: the 1156 Privilegium Minus, by which Frederick Barbarossa elevated Austria from a marginal mark to an independent duchy, compensating Henry for surrendering Bavaria. The arrangement was essentially a buyout, and Henry's subsequent coinage — including this denier — marks the first issues struck under that ducal title.
The nickname "Jasomirgott" derives from his habitual oath, *"ja so mir Gott helfe"* — "yes, so help me God." He founded the Scots' Monastery in Vienna in 1158, two years into his reign as duke.