Anglo-Gallic Eleanor of Aquitaine Silver Denier, Aquitaine Mint, 1189-1199 RARE

Description

Denomination: Silver denier

Period: Anglo-Gallic. Angevin Empire

Date: 1189-1199

Origin: Aquitaine mint

Condition: VF. nicely centred and round. rare

Obverse: Legend around inner circle. within which + + across centre. inverted omega above and inverted V below. +DVCISIT

Reverse: Legend around cross within inner circle (die fault in one quarter). AQVITANE (unbarred A’s)

Size and Weight: 17.5mm. 0.72g

References: Withers & Ford p30. 9A; E 11

Features and Provenance: Eleanor of Aquitaine was born around 1122. the oldest child of William X. Duke of Aquitaine. she was highly educated. Following the death of her brother and father. she became duchess in her own right at the age of fifteen. She was placed under the guardianship of Louis VI of France and was duly married to his son. the future Louis VII. with the aim of bring Aquitaine under French control. Although it seems her husband loved her. her strong-willed nature made her unpopular with others. In 1147. Eleanor. breaking with convention. accompanied her husband on the Second Crusade. This failed and so did their marriage. Surprisingly. only eight weeks later she was married to Henry II. Duke of Normandy. He became King of England in 1154 and their combined lands in England. Wales. Ireland and France became known as the Angevin Empire. Their marriage was tempestuous and she returned to Aquitaine with some of her children. Later. three of their sons. supported by Eleanor. rebelled against their father due to an inheritance dispute. They were unsuccessful and Eleanor was imprisoned for the next sixteen years. until her son. Richard I ascended to the throne and freed her. She acted as regent while Richard was away on the Third Crusade. and survived into the rule another son. John. She continued to play an important political role at court well into old age and she outlived all but two of her children. She died in 1204 at 82. A fascinating life and definitely the power behind the throne! 

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible