MEROVINGIANS, Marseille. Abbo. Patrician of Provence, fl. 730s. AR Denier (11mm, 1.04 g, 9h). Good Fine.

CNG Feature Auction 132
Lot: 946. Estimated: $ 500

Early Medieval, Silver

Sold For $ 350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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MEROVINGIANS, Marseille. Abbo. Patrician of Provence, fl. 730s. AR Denier (11mm, 1.04 g, 9h). + ABO + monogram / MAS monogram. M. Hourlier and P. Schiesser, “Quatre deniers inédits due dernier Patrice de Provence Abbon (vers 732-739),” in BSFN 67.7 (September 2012), no. 1-4; P. Schiesser, “Les deniers d’Abbon et de Mauronte frappés à Arles,” in Monnaies et Monnayages en Avignon entre Provence et Papauté: Actes du colloque des 25-28 mai 2017 au Musée Calvet – Avignon (Paris, 2022), fig. 2-3; NM –; Belfort –; Prou –; MEC 1, –. Toned, deposit. Good Fine. Struck in low grade silver, as all examples appear to be. Extremely rare. The seventh known denier of Abbo from Marseille.

From the James A. Lock Collection.

Around 733, set against a backdrop of collapsing Merovingian authority and rising Arab raids from Spain, the Patrician of Provence, Maurontus, rose in revolt. The patrician knew he would be unable to resist the inevitable reprisal from majordomo Charles Martel and sought an ally in the very force that the general had defeated only a few months earlier at the famous Battle of Tours: the Umayyad Caliphate. Maurontus called on Yusuf ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Fihri, then the Wali of Narbonne and the future governor of al-Andalus. In about 736, Arles and Avignon were both briefly conquered by the rebels and their Arab allies, and control of the region would oscillate between Maurontus and Martel until the rebel’s ultimate defeat in 739. Throughout the conflict, Abbo, rector of Maurienne and Susa, remained loyal to Martel. For this he was awarded the title of Patrician of Provence in 732. Abbo would be the last to hold that title, as the position would be reduced to missus dominicus during the rise of the Carolingian dynasty under Pepin the Short.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 132 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 18-19 May 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 132 – Session Four – Lot 889-1124 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 19 May 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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