CAROLINGIANS. Charlemagne (Charles the Great). As Charles I, King of the Franks, 768-814. AR Denier (17mm, 1.14 g, 9h). Class 2. Medolus (Melle) mint. Struck 771-793/4. VF.

CNG Feature Auction 133
Lot: 737. Estimated: $ 750

Early Medieval, Silver

Sold For $ 2 250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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CAROLINGIANS. Charlemagne (Charles the Great). As Charles I, King of the Franks, 768-814. AR Denier (17mm, 1.14 g, 9h). Class 2. Medolus (Melle) mint. Struck 771-793/4. C(AR)o/LVS in two lines / M&Σ(retrograde D)(retrograde L)σ around central ornament. Coupland, Charlemagne –; Depeyrot 605; M&G –; Prou 6837; cf. MEC 1, 728. Toned, cleaning marks. VF. Rare.

From the James A. Lock Collection.

Charlemagne’s father, Pépin ‘le Bref’ (the Short), having deposed the last Merovingian king, paved the way for Charlemagne to become the most powerful Western monarch since the fall of Rome, formalized by his proclamation as Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day in the year 800, while being acknowledged as Imperator twelve years later by Byzantine emperor Michael II. This facilitated the introduction of the silver denier, which became the mainstay of early medieval commerce.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 133 lots will be determined at the live online sale that will be held on 15-16 September 2026.

CNG Feature Auction 133 – Session Three – Lot 595-896 will be held Wednesday morning, 16 September 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM 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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