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Dinar 'Mancuso' Ramon Berenguer I, Eneas
| Issuer | County of Barcelona |
|---|---|
| Year | 1035-1067 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Dinero |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central field occupied by multiple horizontal lines of degenerate pseudo-Arabic text, imitating the three-line inscription format typical of Fatimid or Taifa-period dinars. The individual letter forms are crudely executed and entirely illegible, representing a further degraded copy of an Arabic prototype. An imitative marginal inscription circles the inner field, likewise composed of meaningless pseudo-Kufic strokes. The surface shows typical hammered relief with an uneven, irregular flan edge. No mint name or date is discernible, consistent with the non-literate copying practice used for these Christian mancusos. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The "mancuso" terminology derives from the Arabic manqush — "engraved" — reflecting that these coins were struck in direct imitation of Fatimid gold dinars then circulating widely across Iberia via al-Andalus trade routes. Ramon Berenguer I had no mint tradition capable of producing gold; Barcelona's output was a deliberate commercial counterfeit in the most literal sense, intended to pass alongside genuine Islamic issues in Mediterranean exchange.
The ".979" fineness is not accidental — it closely matches contemporary Fatimid standards, a calculated choice to maintain credibility in cross-border transactions.