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Obol - Bernard Atto II
| Issuer | Béziers, Viscounty of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1150-1159 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | A bold double-armed cross occupies the central field, enclosed within a beaded inner circle. The cross arms extend to the inner circle and feature wedge-shaped terminals, a characteristic of Languedocian feudal coinage. A Latin legend in majuscule lettering surrounds the beaded circle in the outer field, reading the name of the issuing viscount. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays two circular dial or wheel motifs arranged in the central field, a heraldic device associated with the Viscounty of Béziers. These roundels are set within a beaded inner circle, with a Latin legend in large irregular majuscule lettering distributed around the outer field referencing the city of Béziers. The flan is irregular and the strike uneven, typical of hammered feudal billon coinage of the mid-twelfth century. |
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| Additional information |
Bernard Atto II ruled Béziers during a period when viscounty-level coinage in Languedoc was still establishing local identity against the gravitational pull of both Carolingian weight standards and the expanding monetary influence of Barcelona. Billon issues from this mint are notoriously inconsistent in alloy quality, making the recorded weight of surviving specimens swing sharply from the nominal.
The "var." suffix on the Duplessy feudales reference signals a die or typological deviation from the catalogued type — but Béziers obols of this period are rare enough that the boundary between variety and unique piece is often academic.