MEROVINGIANS. Loir-et-Cher. Pierrefitte. 600-675. Triens (Gold, 13 mm, 1.21 g, 12 h), Hildebodus, moneyer. PETRA FICT Diademed and draped male bust to right . Rev. HILDEBODƧ M Cross on podest; below, pellet. Belfort 3650 var. (with HILDEBODVƧ M). Depeyrot III, p.125, 2. Extremely rare and beautifully preserved. Extremely fine.



The Merovingian coinage is notable for the sheer number of mints, with several hundred already documented. These coins serve as evidence of the so-called 'itinerant kingship', a phenomenon that shaped both the early Middle Ages in general and the Merovingian period in particular. The king and his court were perpetually on the move, minting coins in various locations. This served not only practical needs but also played a key role in the representation of royal authority. In a world that was increasingly fragmented and smaller in scale, it was the king's constant presence that granted him power and legitimacy, as he had to continually assert his rule.

This stands in stark contrast to the broader and more stable structures of the Roman Empire. While, from the 3rd century AD onward, there was a growing demand for a stronger imperial presence in the provinces, the Roman Empire still retained its larger, centralized administrative systems for much longer. In contrast, Merovingian rulers were forced to maintain their authority by traveling and being present in local regions. Furthermore, the small-scale nature of early medieval society made it impossible to sustain royal courts in one place for extended periods, forcing them to stay in constant motion for more practical reasons.

For scholars, this itinerant activity is a fortunate boon. The coins minted at these various sites have preserved the names of many smaller settlements that would otherwise have been lost to history. One such example is the small settlement of Pierrefitte, which appears under the name 'PETRA FICT' on this coin - a fascinating testament to the nature of the traveling kingdoms.