The origins of Polish coinage in the light of new research

The author updates the knowledge of the origins of coinage in Poland in the late 10th and the early 11th centuries. This is possible owing to new coin finds and new research methods, predominantly discoveries of new die-links. In the conclusions, the author states that coin minting in Poland was not initiated by duke Mieszko I (approx. 962-992) but his son Bolesław the Brave (992-1025). The early coinage was more intense than historians used to think, and more diverse. One mint used, simultaneously, dies with correct legends and dies ineptly copying foreign patterns. The coins were used for manifestation and economic purposes alike. They accounted for a small proportion of the prevailing foreign coins in circulation

Dies of the Czech tenth-eleventh-century coinage as a source for the history of the Czech lands

The paper first adumbrates the issue of coins as a source of information from which historian and other researchers can study the past. The Czech coinage of the tenth and eleventh century is shown as a very complex issue. The paper seeks to explore two of them. One is the origin of Emma Regina, whose coins were supposedly minted in Mielnik. Having presented and briefl y analysed medievalists’ hypotheses concerning the origin of Emma, the author concurred with the hypothesis of her French origin. Next, the article examines a coin referred to as denarius episcopi, i.e., minted by an unnamed bishop. Having emended the coins’ inscription, S. Suchodolski has resolved the problems the source hitherto posed in historiography

Czy informacje zawarte w stemplach monet są w pełni wiarygodne?

It is widely believed that the data contained in coin designs are fully reliable. In fact, the metrical data, i.e. information about the issuer, place and time of mintage are not always accurate. This can be the case of modern or even almost contemporary coins. Dates on coins happened not to be updated under Russian partition, German occupations during the WW II and Russian occupation in Polish People Republic. Unmatched record are thalers with an image and name of the Empress Maria Theresa (d. 1780) minted in large quantities in different countries with the same design for two hundred years. Although a similar situation could have existed in the early Middle Ages, we are lacking written sources to confirm that. The very coins are thus the only source. There are two main reasons why designs, these certificates of coins, happened to be false: first, because foreign coin designs were imitated; second, because own coin designs were not changed and thus underwent immobilization. In the first case, coins with the best reputation were imitated: Roman, Byzantine, Anglo-Saxon and Cologne coins, but also gold Arabic dinars. The best known examples of immobilized coins are Carolingian and Saxon pennies and pfennings with the names of the King Otto III and the Empress Adelheid. The latter were minted in large quantities for more than half a century. Therefore they were imitated both in Saxony and Poland, where also Anglo-Saxon, Bavarian and Czech patterns were copied. The best way to identify the real issuer, place and time of issuing of various imitations is to examine the die-links between these imitations and coins with ascertained designs. Nevertheless, sometimes new information contained in the designs of coins, and not taken from outside or from the past, is false. Good example are the twelfth / thirteenth century regional issues of a number of dukes in Poland who did not possess the right of minting. Therefore they issued coins with the names and images of their late fathers or even earlier ancestor. Errors in identifying coins may, however, arise not only from entrusting the false certificates, but also because of the improper interpretation of the designs. It is assumed, for example, that the legends explain the images from the field. In fact, words and images were separate elements that did not have to match. Falsifying legends occurred more frequently than one might expect in different times and on various territories. The driving force behind such actions was mainly economic, and sometimes also political. Accidents also played role. Therefore one must first thoroughly examine a coin, before he makes an attempt to interpret it as a historical source. Slightly extended version of this text in Polish was to appear in the publication of materials from the conference Money and Banking in Great Poland held in Poznań on 20-21 November 2008 (35 figures)

Nowa bulla Bolesława Krzywoustego i problem ołowianych pieczęci w Polsce wczesnośredniowiecznej

The Recently Discovered Bulla of Bolesław III Wrymouth 1102–1138 and the Problem of Lead Seals in Early Medieval Poland The author considers the four lead bullae discovered during archaeological excavations in the Wielkopolska region Poznań, Gniezno, Głębokie and in Mazovia Susk during the years 2002–2006. The bullae are round and bear signs of being affixed to documents by cords. They are stamped on both sides: the obverses depict a ruler by the name Bolesław or Władysław inscriptions are damaged, while the reverse sides bear the image of St. Adalbert. Objects of the sort were unknown in Poland before these findings. The author points out the similarity of the lettering and of the images with other extant seals and coins. The analysis brings him to the conclusion that the bullae are to be dated in the last 25 years of Bolesław’s III Wrymouth rule period: 1113–1138. Their origins are connected with the weakening of the duke’s power after the murder of his brother, Zbigniew. According to Suchodolski, the duke made efforts to strengthen his authority among others by emphasizing the patronage of St.Adalbert over his person – the patron saint of the country. The author also attempts to determine the relative chronology of the bullae. In his opinion these bullae served as authentication elements added to documents.Leaden bullae were used in numerous European countries, both in the Byzantin and Latin worlds. Suchodolski argues that the discussed bullae are not copies of a single foreign exemplar, but repeat various motifs found on different bullae, stemming chiefly from Italy, France and or southern Germany. The idea of producing such seals could come from the foreign members of the duke’s court, including the persons who came to Poland with his wife, Salomea the Countess of Berg. Similarly, the makers of the bullae should be looked for in the same milieu.The Recently Discovered Bulla of Bolesław III Wrymouth 1102–1138 and the Problem of Lead Seals in Early Medieval Poland The author considers the four lead bullae discovered during archaeological excavations in the Wielkopolska region Poznań, Gniezno, Głębokie and in Mazovia Susk during the years 2002–2006. The bullae are round and bear signs of being affixed to documents by cords. They are stamped on both sides: the obverses depict a ruler by the name Bolesław or Władysław inscriptions are damaged, while the reverse sides bear the image of St. Adalbert. Objects of the sort were unknown in Poland before these findings. The author points out the similarity of the lettering and of the images with other extant seals and coins. The analysis brings him to the conclusion that the bullae are to be dated in the last 25 years of Bolesław’s III Wrymouth rule period: 1113–1138. Their origins are connected with the weakening of the duke’s power after the murder of his brother, Zbigniew. According to Suchodolski, the duke made efforts to strengthen his authority among others by emphasizing the patronage of St.Adalbert over his person – the patron saint of the country. The author also attempts to determine the relative chronology of the bullae. In his opinion these bullae served as authentication elements added to documents.Leaden bullae were used in numerous European countries, both in the Byzantin and Latin worlds. Suchodolski argues that the discussed bullae are not copies of a single foreign exemplar, but repeat various motifs found on different bullae, stemming chiefly from Italy, France and or southern Germany. The idea of producing such seals could come from the foreign members of the duke’s court, including the persons who came to Poland with his wife, Salomea the Countess of Berg. Similarly, the makers of the bullae should be looked for in the same milieu

Nowy/stary typ monet Bolesława Chrobrego i skarb, którego nie było

The starting point for this text was the publication of a coin, assigned to Bolesław I the Brave (992–1025), Prince of Poland, with the name BOLEZLAV and a two-side representation of a chapel (Grossmanová, Matejko-Peterka, Kašparová 2018; Fig. 4). It is currently stored in the Moravian Museum in Brno. This coin has been known in the literature since the mid-19th century (Cappe 1850). Former researchers assigned it either to Boleslav III in the Bohemia (Cappe 1850; Hanka 1856) or to Bolesław I the Brave in Poland (Stronczyński 1884; Fiala 1895; Gumowski 1939). Newer researchers ignored it completely, suspecting that it was some kind of imitation or contemporary falsification. However, its authenticity is supported by the fact that it was originally in the collection of H. Dannenberg. Finally, the matter was decided by the publication in the auction catalogue (Warszawskie Centrum Numizmatyczne, Auction no. 67, item 132) of a coin minted on one side with the same die as the coin from Brno (Fig. 5). This allows us to postulate the existence of a new fourth die-chain in the coinage of Bolesław I the Brave (Fig. 6).Punktem wyjścia do napisania tego tekstu była publikacja przypisanej Bolesławowi Chrobremu (992–1025), księciu Polski, monety z imieniem BOLEZLAV i obustronnym przedstawieniem kaplicy (Grossmanová, Matejko-Peterka, Kašparová 2018; Fig. 4). Jest ona obecnie przechowywana w Muzeum Ziemi Morawskiej w Brnie. Moneta ta znana była w literaturze już od połowy XIX w. (Cappe 1850). Starsi badacze przydzielali ją bądź Bolesławowi III w Czechach (Cappe 1850; Hanka 1856), bądź Bolesławowi Chrobremu w Polsce (Stronczyński 1884; Fiala 1895; Gumowski 1939). Nowsi badacze w ogóle ją ignorowali, podejrzewając, że jest jakimś nieokreślonym naśladownictwem lub nowożytnym falsyfikatem. Za jej autentycznością przemawia jednak fakt, że pierwotnie była ona w kolekcji H. Dannenberga. A ostatecznie sprawę przesądziła publikacja w katalogu aukcyjnym (Warszawskie Centrum Numizmatyczne, aukcja 67, obiekt 132) monety, której jedna strona została wybita tym samym stemplem co i moneta z Brna (Fig. 5). Pozwoliło to postulować istnienie nowego, już czwartego łańcucha powiązań stempli monet Bolesława Chrobrego (Fig. 6)

Numismatique et archéologie. Les avantages de la coopération.

Suchodolski Stanislas. Numismatique et archéologie. Les avantages de la coopération.. In: Revue numismatique, 6e série - Tome 25, année 1983 pp. 7-14

Der Schatzfund schlesischer denarii quarternarii aus Ostrów Lednicki

Der Schatzfund wurde im Jahre 1986 während der Konservationsarbeiten in Ruinen der Palatiumkapelle aus dem 10./11. Jh. (Nordwand, ca. 45 cm weit von dem an dieser Stelle vernichteten Flucht, in ca. 70 cm Höhe von dem gegenwärtigen Grundniveau) freigelegt. Die Münzen lagen zwischen den Steinen im verwitterten Gipsmörtel. Es wurden keine Spuren des Verstecks oder irgendwelcher Sicherung bemerkt. Der Schatzfund besteht aus 65 Münzen. Es sind drei Prager Groschen von Wenzel dem II. aus den Jahren 1300 - 1305 und 62 sog. schlesische Quartenses. Zwei von ihnen wurden in Poznań (Posen) (Nr. 4) und in Krosno (Krossen) (Nr. 5) geprägt. Der Entstehungsort von anderen Münzen ist unbekannt. Die Feststellungen von F. Friedensburg sind sehr unsicher und bedürfen einer Verifizierung. Die früher an Brzeg (Brieg) (F. 456 - 458) zugeschriebenen Münzen bezieht der Verfasser hypothetisch an Wroclaw (Breslau) (Nr. 9 - 15) und Legnica (Liegnitz). Die an Wschowa (Fraustadt) zugeschriebenen Münzen bezieht e r dagegen an Fürstenberg (heute Książ bei Wałbrzych) oder an Jawor (Jauer) (Nr. 35 - 37). Sieben Typen waren dem Friedensburg unbekannt. Ein dieser Typen wurde der Munzstatte in Weidenau (heute Vidnava in Bohmen) im Neisse-Herzogstum der Breslauer Bischöfe (Nr. 39) zugeschrieben. Zwei weitere Typen wurden hypothetisch als Ergebnis gemeinsamer Münztätigkeit von Lwówek (Löwenberg) und Jawor (Jauer) (Nr. 33 - 34) sowie Świdnica (Schweidnitz) und Ziębice (Munsterberg) (Nr. 38) betrachtet. Vier Typen bleiben unbestimmt (Nr. 40 - 65). Durchschnittliches arithmetisches Gewicht der Quartensesbeträgt 1,718 g (Abweichungen von 1,34 bis zu 2,19 g). Sie enthalten meistens von 83-88% Silber (Abweichungen von 39 bis zu 99%). Eine Stempelanalyse ließ zu, sowohl identische Exemplare (maximum 5), wie auch Verbindungen zwischen verschiedenen Stempeln (6 Ketten) zu unterscheiden. Der Schatzfund von Ostrów Lednicki wurde nach 1309, wahrscheinlich zwischen den Jahren 1320 und 1331 verborgen. Er ist der zweitgrößte — nach dem Schatzfund aus Zadory bei Kościan — Schatzfund von Quartenses in Großpolen. Obwohl beide Funde nicht weit voneinander freigelegt und in sehr naher Zeit deponiert wurden, ist ihre Zusammensetzung völlig entgegengesetzt; sie enthalten keinen einzigen identischen Typ. In den Annexen I und II wurden Münzen mit unbekannter Herkunft (jetzt in den Sammlungen des Nationalmuseums in Poznań und im Privatbesitz) berücksichtigt, die große Ähnlichkeiten mit den Münzen aus dem Schatzfund von Ostrów Lednicki aufweisen. Da die Informationen von diesen neuen Münzen in etwa derselben Zeit zum Vorschein kamen, gibt es eine theoretische Möglichkeit, daß sie entweder aus demselben Fund, der teilweise zerstreut wurde, oder aus einem anderen Fund mit gleicher Zusammensetzung stammen. In der „Beilage” beschreibt Andrzej Kaszubkiewicz den Ort und Umstände, in den der Schatzfund in der Kapellenmauer freigelegt wurde. Er gibt auch die Ergebnisse einer Analyse (durchgeführt von Prof. Janusz Skoczylas) des Gipsmörtels, in dessen Brocken die Münzen lagen, an. Die Mineralzusammensetzung dieses Mörtels ist für den Mörtel aus den sonstigen Kapellenteilen typisch. Daraus erfolgt, daß der Mörtel viel älter als die Münzen ist und daß er zu deren Vermauerung nicht diente. Wir haben also mehr mit dem versteckten Vermögen als mit einem Votum oder Grundsteinlegungsopfer zu tun

D'où venaient les monnayeurs de l'atelier monétaire de Cracovie à la fin du XIVe et au début du XVe siècle ?

Summary. — Of fifty-five mentions of coin-minters in Cracow in the written sources, twenty- two can be classified according to the geographic or social position of the persons named. Many come from Silesia, Bohemia and Hungary, and the Italian and French specimens also appear to have passed through these regions.Suchodolski Stanislaw. D'où venaient les monnayeurs de l'atelier monétaire de Cracovie à la fin du XIVe et au début du XVe siècle ?. In: Revue numismatique, 6e série - Tome 158, année 2002 pp. 345-352