LHS-Numismatik
(formerly Leu)

The 1234 Roskilde Denier (pfennig, penning, etc) holds the title of earliest coin with an Anno Domini date. Its story is quite remarkable and will be added soon. So far seven have been found, and the coin was known as an oddity even back in the early 1800s when Joseph Mader first mentioned it in his large work on medieval coinage. It is also curious for having no mention of its place of origin, the mintmaster, or ruler on the coin itself.

The only example of this magnificent coin known in private hands was finally put up for public sale by Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen in November 2008 but did not sell at its opening estimate of €33,500. Still it is exciting to see the piece on display! Click here for a larger image of this coin.

Arabic: Struck in Acre year one thousand and two hundred and one and fifty of the incarnation (of the Messiah*).

One God, one faith, one baptism

*on Malloy 15 only

Arabic: His glory forever and ever, amen, amen

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: One Divinity

Arabic: Struck in Acre year one thousand and two hundred and one and fifty of the incarnation

The father and the son

Arabic: One divinity, His is the glory forever and ever, amen

and the holy spirit

Arabic: In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate

al-Malik al-Salih Imad ad-Dunya wa'l Din Isma'il b. Abi Bakr

Arabic: Struck in Damascus year one thousand and two hundred and three and fifty

al-Imam al-Mustansir billah Abu Ja'far al Mansur Amir al-Mu'minin

Arabic: In the name of God the Merciful

al-Malik al-Salih

Arabic: Year one thousand and two hundred and three and fifty

al-Imam al-Mustansir

Outer: ANNO DOMINI-MCCC:-LXXII

Inner: MON-ETA-SCOV-ORST

Outer: +XC:VINCI-XC:REGN-AN:DNI:M.-CCC.LXXII.

Inner: + MON-ETA:IVNG-HEIT

Outer: +XC:VINCI-XC:REGN-AN:DNIM-CCCLXXIII

Inner: +MON-ETA:IVNG-HEIT 

Outer: +XC:VINCIT-XC:REGNA-AN:DNI.M.-CCCLXXIIII

Inner: + MON-ETA:IVNG-HEIT

Sold at AG Basel Auction 29, June 2003, $4680

This date is the true Holy Grail for most early-dated collectors, as the 1372 and 1373 Aachens are not extant and the 1372 Schoonvorst Groschen is locked up in a museum. 16 of these coins are known to be extant. The Aachen Turnosegroschens of the early 15th century represent the first series of early-dated coins that an example of are within the financial reach of average collectors.

Outer: +XC:VINCIT-XC:REGNA-AN:DNI.M.-CCCLXXV

Inner: + MON-ETA:IVNG-HEIT

Outer:
ANNOD-OMINI-MCCC:-:LXXXXI

Inner:
MON-ETA-SCOV-ORST  

New 26

Saurma
2812

Outer:
+ANNO:DOMINI:MILESIMO:CCCC:XXII

Inner:
+MONETA:VRB'.AQVS' 

Sold at Leu Numismatik Sale #84, $8300

This is an extremely rare piece, only three being known to Dr. Cervin at the time of the 2000 printing of the Frey book. Leu Numismatik sold two of the pieces at its Auction 84 and both brought prices that attest to its scarcity. I am unaware of the location of the third piece. The 1424 St. Gallen is the first coin minted with a fully written anno domini Arabic date. The '4' is of the medieval style, but the '2' is interestingly engraved in the modern numeral form rather than the form 'Z' which is used on many later coins into the early decades of the 16th century.

Sold at Auctiones AG Basel Sale #29, $1600