Pfennig - Dietrich IV Limburg an der Lahn

Historical Context: This Pfennig was issued under Dietrich IV, Count of Limburg an der Lahn, between 1350 and 1377, a pivotal period in the Late Middle Ages. The County of Limburg, a smaller territorial entity within the fragmented Holy Roman Empire, exercised its sovereign right to mint coinage. Such billon pfennigs were crucial for local commerce, facilitating daily transactions and underscoring the count's authority and economic autonomy amidst regional power shifts and post-plague economic adjustments.

Artistry: The engraver remains unrecorded, typical for common medieval issues. Stylistically, the piece aligns with the Late Medieval German or Rhenish numismatic tradition, favoring functional over elaborate designs. The obverse likely features a simplified cross, a ubiquitous Christian symbol. The reverse would typically display a heraldic device, such as the Limburg lion or the count's initial, enclosed within a geometric border, reflecting the limited 16mm flan space.

Technical/Grading: Struck in billon, this 0.5-gram pfennig often exhibits characteristics common to its type. High-points for wear assessment are typically the central elements, like the cross's intersection or the highest relief of any heraldic device. Technical strike qualities frequently include irregular or slightly off-center flans, evidence of manual striking. Weakness in the strike, particularly at the periphery, and surface imperfections from the billon alloy are common for coins of this period and denomination.