medieval silver? HELP please... What is it?

Rickc300

I bought a small group of these (four) they all appear to be the same design but the one pictured is by far the best looking and centered of the group. The dealer I bought them from claim they are Austrian/German silver Friesacher Pfeniges. I don't have any references from this era so any help would be most appreciated.
UNKNOWN MEDIEVAL SILVER COIN
Thanks in advance for your help...
Rick

1jester

I have no idea what they are but they show similarities to 12-13th century brakteats (very thin silver coins that are usually larger in diameter but lesser in weight than "pennies").



edit: On the other hand, they don't seem to be nearly as large in diameter as brakteats, so I'd also go with the guess that they are "pennies" but I'd still guess their vintage to the 1100-1300 time period.

edit #2: I just did a google search for "Friesacher pfenig denar" and came up with a few hits. Here's one: http://www.muenzauktion.com/szaivert/cat.php5?lang=en&lines=30&sort=&catid=22&desc=desc&page=1&sort=jahr&PHPSESSID=ac008f9557af3b5a6b52bc39f9e2b657
and they do place the minting of these around 1200.

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Rickc300

Here is another picture of the Obverse? The side in question is a little bit better than the whole coin I listed earlier. It shows the head and what appears to me to be a shepards staff from the figure in his left hand... Of the four coins I have, all are very thin but vary in shape, which I guess (hope) is normal for the time. In using a homemade balance scale made of sewing thread and a couple of pennies with a dowel rod they all appear to be the same weight even if varying in actual diameter (size). I want to know the origin and possible value... Since I have four of them I will give one to the person who documents the coin for sure and offer another as a give-a-way here on the forums. I will keep one and sell the last one on eBay if worth while (say $20 or more, with half the proceeds going to a YN in credit on coins of his or her choice) or you can give it to another to a YN entered by the members. If it is something you would rather have yourself enter the give-a-way and offer something else worth more than the determined value to a YN in a give-a-away of your own. The highest give-a-away value will determine the winner to the YN of his or her choice.
Thanks again and I hope to hear from the people far more educated than myself in this field.
Rick

I forgot... here is the added pic of the coin on a blank just about cut square... Obverse with a better view...