Frisian Solidus Imitating Louis the Pious

CNG 100, Lot: 470. Estimate $3000. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

FRISIANS. 9th century. AV Solidus (22mm, 4.11 g). In the name of Carolingian emperor Louis the Pious (814-840). IIVIIVIIIV[...]IIIIIII, laureate and draped bust right; degenerated inscr / OIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII, cross pattée within beaded circular border. Grierson, Gold, Type V; cf. Delmonte 29. VF, struck from heavily worn dies. Very rare.

From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex John Work Garrett Collection (Part II, Leu/Numismatic Fine Arts, 16 October 1984), lot 692 (purchased from J. Schulman, 20 December 1921).

These coins were issued for trade purposes in Frisia and must have been produced over a considerable period of time. This coin can be dated by the presence in the Delfzijl Hoard of silver deniers of Charles the Fat struck between 882 and 887. The dies themselves may have been cut much earlier and reused.