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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 
196, Lot: 446. Estimate $150.
Sold for $530. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GERMANY, Aachen. Frederick I ‘Barbarossa’. 1152-1190. AR Pfennig (17mm, 1.77 g, 7h). FRIDЭRICVIO BR (ΛV)G, Frederick seated facing, holding lis-tipped scepter and globus cruciger / + RO6A CAPVT 6VND[IO(?)], palace with four turrets; star above. Menadier 34 var. (legends); Förschner 9 var. (same). VF, toned.


Frederick I Barbarossa was one of the greatest German Holy Roman Emperors. He addressed the problems that had caused infighting between the various German magnates, ending the civil wars that plagued Germany for years. In addition, he reinforced the power of the Emperor over the Papacy regarding temporal matters. He also recovered imperial rights in northern and central Italy, and revitalized the military and administrative powers within the empire. Under Barbarossa, the German empire certainly reached a high-point. In 1189, the emperor endeavored to bring a great German crusade to the Holy Lands. At the time, Saladin's advances were having a grave effect, and outside help was needed by the Christian armies. Barbarossa gathered a huge army, numbering near 100,000, and marched towards Outremer. By 1190, he was on the verge of entering the arena, and probably would have pushed the odds far into the crusaders' favour. Unfortunately, while crossing the river Seleucia with his army, Frederick drowned, and his army disintegrated; only around 1000 German crusaders completed the journey.