Hammered Croatian Newp
Rexford
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Croatia. Zagreb mint. Stephen V (King of Hungary and Croatia) (1270-1272) Denar, PCGS MS62. 17mm. 1.09gm. Rengjeo-136. Minted for the province of Slavonia under Ban Joachim Pectari.
Marten advancing left, six-pointed stars above and below, all within inner beaded circle, +MOnETA REGIS P SCLAVOnIA ["Money of the King of Slavonia"] around // Double-barred patriarchal cross (☨), flanked at base by crowned facing royal busts, six-pointed star in upper left quadrant, pellet within crescent in upper right, crowned S | R [for "Stephanus Rex"] flanking lower cross arm, all within circle within beaded border.
Banovac, banski denar, or banica were struck and used in Croatia between 1235 and 1384. The root word "ban" is a title of nobility used in Croatia, and roughly translates as "viceroy", whereas "denar" is drawn from the Ancient Roman "denarius." Banovac included the image of a marten, as marten pelts were highly valued goods used as a form of payment in Slavonia, the Croatian Littoral, and Dalmatia. Banovac were particularly appreciated for the purity of their silver as well as for the beauty and quality of their engraving, and circulated throughout central Europe. In fact, the name of the current Croatian currency is the kuna (Croatian for "marten"), and the marten and six-pointed star motifs of the country's current coat of arms were likewise drawn directly from this coinage.
A lovely type, delicately detailed and with unusually fine design elements for the period, the facing portraits on the reverse particularly reminiscent of the much later Spanish excelente issues of the 15th century. Scarcely encountered as a type but not uncommon in lower circulated grades, this being perhaps the sole example to have survived in mint state condition. Double-struck on the obverse and executed on a slightly broad flan, weighing in at about 15-20% greater than the average piece would seem to and clearly a superior example, lending a rare detailed view of the marten with even the hairs of the fur plainly visible.
Comments
I have one very work with issues. This is one of the best I have seen, congrats.
Beautiful piece and nice writeup!
Justin Meunier
Boardwalk Numismatics
Nice coin, and thanks for the background info.