Obol - Richard I

Richard I held Poitou as count before and during his English kingship, and the county's coinage operated largely independently of the English crown — a feudal arrangement that meant these billon issues were struck for local Poitevin commerce rather than for any realm-wide monetary policy. Richard spent almost none of his reign in either England or Poitou, yet the mints continued producing in his name throughout his Crusade and his imprisonment in Austria following capture by Duke Leopold in 1192.

At 0.42 g, the obol is the half-denier denomination, struck in debased billon characteristic of Poitevin feudal issues of the period.