This is a coin known as a “Bracteate,” manufactured in the commercial powerhouse of Lüneburg under the rule of the Duke of Saxony within the Holy Roman Empire, dating from AD 1142 to AD 1195. The coin features a total of three concentric circles, with geometric patterns adorning the space between the inner two circles. At the very centre lies an emblematic totem of the ruler: the lion symbol of Henry the Lion. Variations exist in the posture and appearance of the lion emblem depending on the territories ruled by Henry the Lion. For example, on coins from Lüneburg, the lion’s head faces left, and its appearance is more delicate and endearing.
Henry the Lion’s territories were not limited to the northern Saxon regions of Germany but also encompassed the duchies in the southern Bavarian area. The choice of the lion as his emblem by Henry highlights not only his status as the most powerful prince within the Holy Roman Empire but also signifies his ambition, particularly in aspiring to the throne held by his cousin, Emperor Frederick I. Beyond incorporating the lion into his heraldry, Henry erected a bronze lion statue in the heart of Brunswick, thus solidifying the lion’s symbolic significance as the city’s emblem. Following Henry’s demise, literature even depicted him rescuing a lion engaged in combat with a dragon on his journey to the Holy Land of Jerusalem. This lion became his faithful companion, with legends suggesting it perished from grief-induced fasting after Henry’s death.
The type of coin known as a “Bracteate” was prevalent from the 12th century to the early 16th century and was commonly circulated in the Germanic and Scandinavian regions. Unlike coins from the Roman era, Bracteates were struck using only one die instead of two. These coins, made from soft materials such as lead or tin, would leave distinct impressions of the die’s outline on the reverse side after being struck.
During the 12th century within the Holy Roman Empire, numerous principalities coexisted, and the feudal system with its manorial holdings had yet to evolve beyond medieval norms. Economic activity largely stagnated at a primitive stage characterised by barter, with only a limited circulation of currency, often manufactured using inexpensive materials such as lead and tin. To collect taxes, rulers frequently declared old coins obsolete at intervals of two to three years. They established an exchange rate of four old coins for three new ones, thus reclaiming coins from the populace. Consequently, archaeologists seldom encounter coins from this period in hoard-like formations reminiscent of those from the Roman era because these Bracteate coins had expiration dates and were unsuitable for savings or wealth accumulation.
