Lot 1976

Description

Merovingians, Dorestat, (c.650-680 A.D.), gold tremissis 14mm, (1.14 g), Frisian imitation of mintmaster Madelinus, obv. DOR ESTLT FIT, diademed bust to right, rev. MADELNIVS II, latin cross on base with six pellets below, (NM II, 1, Belfort 'Description generale des monnaies merovingiennes, Paris. 1895' No. 1785; MEC 1, 494 var. [pellets in legends]). Plugged, otherwise very fine and rare.

According to D.J. Henstra (The Evolution of the Money Standard in Medieval Frisia [Gronigen, 2000]), the Merovingians occupied Frisia circa 630, whereupon the mintmasters Madelinus and Rimoaldus struck their respective gold coinages. Around 650, the Frisians reconquered their territories, and continued to strike tremisses based on the Dorestat type of Madelinus, though likely at a mint removed from Dorestat. These imitations were quickly debased, until full silver derniers replaced the tremisses, circa 680. The Merovingians captured Dorestat again circa 689, and reestablished their mint there. It was around this time that the production of the silver deniers based on the Madelinus type ended. (CNG note).