CAROLINGIANS. Charlemagne (Charles the Great), as Charles I, king of the Franks, 768-814. Denier (Silver, 21 mm, 1.57 g, 2 h), Pavia. Class III, 783-812. ✠ CARLVS REX FR Cross pattée. Rev. ✠ PAPIA around CAROLVS monogram. Depeyrot 780 E. M&G 207. MEC 1, 1026. MIR 811. Rare. Lightly toned and struck on wonderful metal. Extremely fine.


This Denier falls into a historically and numismatically fascinating period within the Carolingian era. After Charlemagne conquered Pavia in 774, bringing an end to the Lombard Kingdom, he had coins minted in Pavia following the Frankish typology, but with a distinctive and unmistakable style.

Our piece originates from the time when a second, profound coinage reform took place within the Carolingian Empire. From this point onward, the so-called denarii novi were minted with a cross on the obverse and a CAROLVS monogram on the reverse. Additionally, the stylistic quality of Carolingian coins reached a new, very high level, as can be easily seen in our well-preserved piece.