Pfennig - Bernard II Heiligenkreuz

Bernard II ruled Carinthia from 1202 until his death in 1256, and his coinage from the Heiligenkreuz mint reflects the fragmented monetary authority that characterized the Austrian duchies during the Staufen period. The Heiligenkreuz issues are distinguished from his St. Veit and Friesach series by subtle die characteristics catalogued under the CNA typology, making attribution dependent almost entirely on reference literature rather than mint marks, which were not used consistently.

Friesach-tradition pfennigs from Carinthia circulated well beyond ducal borders — Slovenian and northern Italian markets absorbed them in quantity throughout the thirteenth century.