A great rarity, one of the most famous and puzzling denarii of Boleslaw I the Brave.
This type of coin, over the course of 100 years, has changed its attribution many times.
Already Kazimierz Stronczynski described this denarius as "a coin minted in Poland under a foreign stamp".
Because of the legend "VENCIEZLAVVS" (backwards), meaning the name "Wenceslas," it was long considered by Czech researchers to be the first Czech coin, minted during the life of St. Wenceslas (923-935). It was not until Viktor Katz, and then in the 1950s. Zygmunt Zakrzewski recognized this type of denarius as the Polish coin of Boleslav I the Brave.
Finally, Stanislaw Suchodolski (Wiadomości Numizmatyczne, rok. XI, z. 2-3; Moneta polska w X/XI wieku) described the minting history of the offered coin extremely extensively, and confirmed his opinion in a 2012 publication. The author determines the time of issue to be 995-997 (just after the Brave took power and before the martyrdom of St. Adalbert) or 1002-1004 (during the struggle for the Bohemian crown). According to today's knowledge, the former period is more likely.
According to Kopicki, there are 13 known pieces.
Piece well readable, unevenly stamped (part of the disc beaten very deep, part deficient), in old patina.
The usual signs of circulation in the era (bends, pecks), a crack in the disc.
For the best collections - definitely recommended.
MONET FROM AN GERMAN'S AUCTION No. 21, year 2019, final price 27,600zl.
obverse: inside the rim the letters CVV (distorted DVX), around the reverse RCLLELRVVS (distorted BOLESLAVS)
reverse: inside the rim a straight cross with expanded arms, in the angles wedges, around the rim VENCIEZLIVVVS (distorted VENCIEZLAVVS )
Silver, diameter 20.5 mm, weight 0.67 g.