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Obol - Louis I christian legend
| Issuer | Unified Carolingian Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 814-818 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Obol (1⁄480) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A stylised Roman temple façade with four columns set upon two stepped podiums, surmounted by a triangular pediment topped by a cross, a type derived from the Carolingian Christiana Religio series. The architectural motif is rendered in a schematic, flat manner typical of hammered Carolingian coinage. The encircling Latin legend XPISTIΛNΛ RELIGIO surrounds the temple in the outer field. |
| Reverse script | Latin |
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| Additional information |
Struck in the opening years of Louis the Pious's reign, this obol belongs to the transitional coinage that followed Charlemagne's death in January 814. The Christian legend type reflects a deliberate religious emphasis Louis pursued to distinguish his rule — he had already earned his epithet through conspicuous piety before he inherited the throne. At roughly half the weight of the contemporary denier, these obols saw intense everyday use and survive in fine condition only rarely.