Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 116 2-3 Jun 2020
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Italian States: Venice. Denaro, ND (822-840). CNI VII 5 var; Biaggi-2748. In the style of Louis the Pious. 1.15 g. Temple. Reverse; Cross pattee in quarters. Surface porosity. Very Rare. NGC graded Extremely Fine Detail (Damaged). Estimated Value $1,000 - UP
In early 9th century, Venice had not yet grown to a major marine power. As an emerging trade post between the east and west, Venice soon realized that the Franks from the newly founded Carolingian Empire were potentially their primary business partners. However, Venice was then nominally still an autonomy state of Byzantine Empire, who has long been attempting to re-proclaim their deomination in the land that used to belong to the Roman Empire. It was the agreement between Charlemagne and the Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus in 814 that free the region from military conflicts, enabled trades along the Adriatic coast, and therefore encouraged Venice to strike coins in the style of Carolingian monarchs.
This presented coin was struck in Venice under such circumstance but with extreme causion and intelligence. Even though the appearance of this coin looks very much the same as the Carolingian issues, the name and titles of Louis the Pious in the legend was carefully replaced by "DS CVSERVA ROMANO (I)MP." (literally "Lord, Preserve the Roman Emp."), of which the last two words could be read as either "Roman Empire" or "Roman Emperor". This was possibly a way to please rulers on both sides of Europe, since Byzantine Empire still called themselves "Empire of the Romans" while the Carolingian ruler had already granted the title "Emperor of the Romans".
In early 9th century, Venice had not yet grown to a major marine power. As an emerging trade post between the east and west, Venice soon realized that the Franks from the newly founded Carolingian Empire were potentially their primary business partners. However, Venice was then nominally still an autonomy state of Byzantine Empire, who has long been attempting to re-proclaim their deomination in the land that used to belong to the Roman Empire. It was the agreement between Charlemagne and the Byzantine Emperor Nicephorus in 814 that free the region from military conflicts, enabled trades along the Adriatic coast, and therefore encouraged Venice to strike coins in the style of Carolingian monarchs.
This presented coin was struck in Venice under such circumstance but with extreme causion and intelligence. Even though the appearance of this coin looks very much the same as the Carolingian issues, the name and titles of Louis the Pious in the legend was carefully replaced by "DS CVSERVA ROMANO (I)MP." (literally "Lord, Preserve the Roman Emp."), of which the last two words could be read as either "Roman Empire" or "Roman Emperor". This was possibly a way to please rulers on both sides of Europe, since Byzantine Empire still called themselves "Empire of the Romans" while the Carolingian ruler had already granted the title "Emperor of the Romans".