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Obol - Carlus II
| Issuer | County of Barcelona |
|---|---|
| Year | 870-890 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Cru#10, Dy féodales#1406 |
| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Central field bears a stylised monogram of BARCELONA within a plain inner circle, composed of interlaced letters in the Carolingian monogram tradition, with horizontal bars and vertical strokes clearly distinguishable. The surrounding legend reads ✠ BΛRCINONΛ (Barcelona), in Carolingian majuscules. The flan is irregular and of variable thickness, consistent with hand-hammered production. The overall strike is slightly off-centre, a common characteristic of early medieval Catalan coinage. |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
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| Mintage | ND (870-890) |
| Additional information |
Charles II ("the Bald") secured recognition of Barcelona as a hereditary county for Guifré el Pilós — Wilfred the Hairy — in 878, a grant that effectively began the dynastic line of the House of Barcelona. Coinage struck under his authority in the county during this period reflects the fragmented monetary administration of the late Carolingian empire, with local mints operating under nominal royal oversight but considerable practical independence.
The Dy féodales reference places this firmly within the feudal French series rather than the Iberian regal issues — a classification that itself tells the political story of Barcelona's ambiguous position between Frankish sovereignty and emerging Catalan autonomy.