AUSTRIA. Formbach. Abtei. Circa 1140-1165. Pfennig (Silver, 22 mm, 0.70 g), Neunkirchen. Six-part rosette with ringlet at center and three ringlets in each angle; all sorrounded by horseshoe-circle legend. Rev. Half-lenght figure of abbot facing, holding cross-tipped scepter in his right and crosier scepter in his left hand; all sorrounded by horseshoe legend. CNA -, cf. B 52 (single ringlet in the angles on the obverse). Winter -, cf. 7a (different reverse motif). Rare and nicely toned. Minor scratches, some areas of weakness and edge chipping, otherwise, very fine.



This coin is an intriguing mule that has sparked considerable debate in the past. Koch recorded this reverse type, depicting an abbot holding a cross-tipped scepter and crosier, only with an obverse showing a single ringlet in the angles rather than three (CNA B 52). The obverse of the present specimen, by contrast, is attested with a varying symbol at the center of the rosette and paired with different reverses - first for the Counts of Formbach-Pütten (CNA B 61 A a) and, more recently, also for the Margraves of Styria between 1144 and 1160 (Leu Web Auction 33, 15 March 2025, 3421).

While the coin cannot at present be attributed to a specific abbot, the obverse - evidently employed by multiple issuing authorities after 1140 - lends support to Koch’s proposed dating, which places related types between 1140 and 1165.