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Groat - Arnold III of Stein
| Issuer | Lordship of Reckem |
|---|---|
| Year | 1355-1372 |
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| Composition | Billon |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Central field occupied by a small footed cross with splayed terminals, dividing the field into four quadrants, each containing a letter of the issuer's name or a decorative element. The cross is surrounded by a plain inner circle, beyond which runs the circular legend in uncial Latin characters separated by mullet stops. The flan is irregularly shaped and shows characteristic hammer-struck fabric, with a beaded outer border framing the design. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Central field bearing a heraldic shield displaying the coat of arms of the Lords of Stein, rendered in the bold, simplified style typical of 14th-century Low Countries billon coinage. The shield is contained within a plain inner circle, surrounded by a circular legend in uncial Latin characters. The entire design is enclosed by a beaded outer border, with the irregular flan edges characteristic of hammered production visible at the periphery. |
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| Additional information |
Arnold III ruled the tiny Lordship of Reckem, a fragmented seigneurie in the County of Flanders, during one of the most monetarily chaotic periods in the Low Countries. The 1350s through 1370s saw Flemish lords issuing billon coinage in direct competition — sometimes in deliberate defiance — of comital monetary authority, flooding local markets with underweight pieces. At 0.53 g, this groat sits at the lower end of what the denomination carried in contemporary Flemish practice, suggesting either significant circulation wear or intentional reduction at the die.
The unlisted status in both van der Chijs and Vanhoudt signals genuine rarity. Reckem's output was small enough that individual dies may account for only a handful of surviving specimens.