Lot 1708

Description

France, Aquitaine, William IX or William X, (1086-1137), silver denier, 18mm, (1.06 g). Bordeaux mint, obv. +CL (retrograde) VILILMO, four crosslets around central annulet, rev. +BVRDEGIILA, cross, (Poey d'Avant 2731 (Bernard Guillaume); Boudeau 462; Roberts 4309). Toned, good very fine.

Ex Dr L.J. Sherwin Collection, from B.A.Seaby Ltd., October 12, 1977.
Although Poey d'Avant assigns this and similar types to Bernard Guillaume (984-1010), the obverse legend, CL(retrograde)VILILMO, argues against such an attribution, since a type with the legend BERNARDVS (Poey d'Avant 2719) is known for Bernard. Types with the legend SANCHIUS (Poey d'Avant 2711-2718) for Bernard's predecessor Sanche (before 984) further weaken the attribution of our coin to Bernard. The only possiblity is that this coin was struck for either William IX or William X, the grandfather and father of Eleanor of Aquitaine respectively; a more definite attribution to either individual is, however, not possible at this point. (CNG comment on similar coin).