Catalog
| Issuer | Bishopric of Gurk (Austrian States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1183-1210 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | 1 Pfennig (1) |
| Currency | Pfennig (1072-1500) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 1.3 g |
| Diameter | 22 mm |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | CNA#Cq1 |
| Obverse description | Frontal half-length portrait of a clergyman, holding a crosier in his right hand and a book in his left. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | ICEISS |
| Reverse description | Church building with two towers and a gable crowned with a cross; the gutters are bent upwards at the ends like horns and terminate in a point shape. |
| Reverse script | |
| Reverse lettering | |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (1183-1210) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 3847595670 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: This Pfennig, issued by the Bishopric of Gurk (1183-1210), exemplifies the economic and political autonomy of ecclesiastical territories within the Holy Roman Empire. Gurk, a significant suffragan diocese of Salzburg, exercised its regalian minting rights to support its administration. This dating places the coin within the episcopates of Bishops Heinrich II and Walther, an era of consolidating princely power and widespread regional Pfennig circulation as primary silver currency across Central Europe.
Artistry: The artistry of this Pfennig reflects Romanesque stylistic conventions prevalent in early medieval numismatic workshops. While engravers are anonymous, the mint master's hand is evident in the stylized execution. Designs often featured a frontal bust of the bishop or a saint, perhaps with a crozier, or an architectural motif representing the cathedral or a city gate. The Gurk Pfennig likely displayed a hieratic, two-dimensional rendering, prioritizing symbolic representation over naturalism, characteristic of the era's small-scale metalwork.
Technical/Grading: Struck on a broad, thin silver flan (1.3 grams, 22 millimeters), this Pfennig exhibits typical technical qualities of its period. High points susceptible to wear or weak strike include the crown, mitre, facial features on a bust, and central elements of any cross or architectural detail. Common strike characteristics include off-center strikes, irregular flan shapes, and variable strike pressure, often resulting in areas of flatness or incomplete design elements. CNA#Cq1 denotes its catalog reference.