GERMANY. Dortmund. Reichsmünzstätte. Heinrich III, 1039-1056. Denar (Silver, 18 mm, 1.59 g, 6 h). ✠ HEI[NR]ICVS R[EX] Crowned head of Heinrich III to left. Rev. ✠ M[I]NTEONA Cross pattée with pellets in each angle. Berghaus -. Dannenberg 726. Stange 11. Lightly toned. Some areas of weakness and minor scratches, otherwise, very fine.


This coin belongs to a group of issues bearing the inscription 'MINTEONA', which older scholarship once interpreted as a reference to the city of Minden. As a result, the entire group was traditionally attributed to that location. However, recent die-link studies - particularly connections with coins featuring the reverse legend 'DRVOTMONA' - now leave little doubt that these pieces were actually struck in Dortmund (cf. B. Kluge: MINTEONA. Rätselhafte Münzserien aus der Zeit Konrads II. und Heinrichs II., in: Westfalia Numismatica 2013, Osnabrück 2013, pp. 101-116).