Denier anonymous ND

Reverse

Cross with pellets in quarters and in the middle.

Script: Latin

Lettering: ✠ ഗΛNCTI ΛNIΛI

Translation: ... of Saint-Aignan.

Comment

Saint-Aignan belonged to Thibaut le Tricheur. If the first coinage is of the bléso-chartrain type, that of the second half of the XIIth century is inspired by the primitive castle of Saint-Martin deTours. Thibaut IV, Count of Blois, had seized the seigneury of Saint-Aignan from Geoffrey III. The coinage could take again under Hervé III of Donzy. The family of Donzy also possessed Gien. After the death of Hervé IV de Donzy in 1222, Saint-Aignan passed to Guy de Châtillon who married Agnès de Donzy.

This is an automatic translation. The original text is:

Saint-Aignan a appartenu à Thibaut le Tricheur. Si le premier monnayage est de type bléso-chartrain, celui de la seconde moitié du XIIe siècle est inspiré du châtel primitif de Saint-Martin deTours. Thibaut IV, comte de Blois, avait saisi la seigneurie de Saint-Aignan à Geoffroi III. Le monnayage pourrait reprendre sous Hervé III de Donzy. La famille de Donzy possédait aussi Gien. Après la disparition d'Hervé IV de Donzy en 1222, Saint-Aignan passa à Guy de Châtillon qui épousa Agnès de Donzy.

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about this coin is that it was minted during a time of great turmoil in France, specifically during the reign of King Louis VII (1137-1180). The coin's anonymous design and the use of billon (a silver-copper alloy) instead of pure silver suggest that the mint was trying to conserve precious metals during a period of economic instability. Despite these efforts, the coin still features a stylish design, with a cross pattée on the obverse (front) side and a fleur-de-lis on the reverse (back) side, which were common motifs in medieval French coinage.

• medieval