CAROLINGIANS. Louis 'le Pieux' (the Pious). As Emperor Louis I, 814-840. AV Solidus (22mm, 4.17 g, 1h). Contemporary imitation of Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) mint issue. Uncertain mint in Frisia. Struck circa 830. IIDII[...]VDOVVIIIIV ΛVI, laureate and draped bust right / IIIIIIIIOIIIIIIII, small cross pattée within wreath with /|\ ties. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 86; Grierson, Gold, Type V(b)-(m) (same dies as illustration); cf. Prou 1076; cf. BMC Carolingians 78; MEC -. Struck with worn and slightly rusty dies. VF. Very rare.
From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 88 (14 September 2011), lot 1770.
This issue belongs to an extensive series of imitative solidi modeled on a short-lived issue struck under Louis the Pious between 814 and 818 at the Carolingian capital of Aachen (see Grierson, Gold, Plate 1, 4). Studies of coin finds have shown that these imitations were struck in Frisia between circa AD 830-900, and circulated throughout the North Sea region.