GERMANY. Sachsen-Markgrafschaft Meißen und Nachbarn. Niederlausitz. Anonymous issues, 13th century. Bracteate (Silver, 21 mm, 0.43 g, 12 h). Nimbate head facing within square set on three crossed lines. Rev. Incuse of obverse. Bahrfeldt (Niederlausitz) pl. XIV, 261. Mochow Hoard 104. Starzeddel Hoard 173. Wolkenberg Hoard 12. Beautifully toned. Weakly struck and minor edge defects, otherwise, very fine.


Like so many issues from Lower Lusatia, this enigmatic type likewise defies precise attribution. Bahrfeldt assigned it to the period and milieu of the Meissen margrave Heinrich (1221–1288) (cf. E. Bahrfeldt: Zur Münzkunde im XIII. Jahrhundert, II. Heft, Guben 1926, p. 74).

The prototype for this type, however, is older: in the Bracteate coinage of the Meissen margrave Otto (1156-1190) one finds a nearly identical design (Berger 1887. Bonhoff 1005. Schwinkowski 297.), depicting a helmeted head within the same square set on crossed lines.