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Denier - Pepin the Short royal alms
| Issuer | Unified Carolingian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 751-768 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Aniconic design displaying the word ELIMOSINA (alms) distributed across three horizontal registers separated by plain horizontal bars, reading ELI / MOSI / NA from top to bottom. The lettering is executed in bold, irregular Latin capitals characteristic of early Carolingian hand-struck coinage, with the letters filling the available field in a structured yet informal arrangement. No figurative or symbolic device is present. The design is enclosed by a border of large pellets around the periphery, consistent with the obverse treatment. The overall style reflects the rudimentary die-cutting techniques of the mid-eighth century Frankish royal moneyers. |
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| Edge | Plain (irregular) |
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| Additional information |
Pépin III seized the Frankish throne in 751 after engineering the deposition of Childeric III — the last Merovingian king, who was tonsured and sent to a monastery — with explicit papal endorsement from Zachary. This coin belongs to the royal alms issues, distributed as charitable gifts rather than struck for general commerce, which partly explains their survival in relatively pristine condition despite their age. Prou's silence on this type is notable given how thoroughly he catalogued Carolingian material.