Alfa Numismatics ApS
Auction 14 18 Jun 2023
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Germany. Lower Saxony. Ca 1050-1100. Uniface, brass-like metal, token (21mm, 1.23g). Goslar mint (?). +OИEPMONCIT, crowned (Goslar type) bust facing. Dbg. 759 (for type); J.S. Jensen, p104 (for type); Hilberg 1-20 (for type). Flan crack, otherwise Extremely Fine. Highly interesting and rare token. 26 known to Lau this being the 27th, none in private collections.
The present piece is a very rare example of the enigmatic and fascinating Benno token (also referred to as Benno jetons, pseudo-coin fibulas or nummular brooches). The precise function of these Benno tokens are not known today but the token is known for the inscription BENNO ME FECIT (or sometimes VECIT), "Benno made me", and it is thought to refer to bishop Benno of Hildesheim, Goslar and later Osnabrück (died 1088). Alternative suggestions has also been proposed, such as bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (993-1022).
Already in 1876 Hermann Dannenberg noticed that the socalled "Benno-Jetons" could be divided into two categories, a Dortmund (4 known by Lau) and Goslar crown type (20 known Lau, with 2 unidentifiable) and proposed that these tokens served as test for the mint(s).
In 1995 Jørgen Steen Jensen in "Tusindtallets danske mønter fra Den kongelige Mønt- og Medaillesamling" tempted to propose, due to the many finds in Danish lands, relative to the overall population, the origin of these tokens to be Danish, but ended up suggesting these token to be pilgrim jetons of people who had visited the grave of the influential Bernward (Benno in Latin) of Hildesheim 960-1022 who was later canonized.
More recent finds, and Lau's enlarged catalog show that the finds are scattered throughout Europe and Lau has proposes that the tokens were issued to verify a persons legitimacy in trade. The blundered legends would then be forgeries of the originals with "Benno me facit" legends.
Estimate: 2000 EUR
The present piece is a very rare example of the enigmatic and fascinating Benno token (also referred to as Benno jetons, pseudo-coin fibulas or nummular brooches). The precise function of these Benno tokens are not known today but the token is known for the inscription BENNO ME FECIT (or sometimes VECIT), "Benno made me", and it is thought to refer to bishop Benno of Hildesheim, Goslar and later Osnabrück (died 1088). Alternative suggestions has also been proposed, such as bishop Bernward of Hildesheim (993-1022).
Already in 1876 Hermann Dannenberg noticed that the socalled "Benno-Jetons" could be divided into two categories, a Dortmund (4 known by Lau) and Goslar crown type (20 known Lau, with 2 unidentifiable) and proposed that these tokens served as test for the mint(s).
In 1995 Jørgen Steen Jensen in "Tusindtallets danske mønter fra Den kongelige Mønt- og Medaillesamling" tempted to propose, due to the many finds in Danish lands, relative to the overall population, the origin of these tokens to be Danish, but ended up suggesting these token to be pilgrim jetons of people who had visited the grave of the influential Bernward (Benno in Latin) of Hildesheim 960-1022 who was later canonized.
More recent finds, and Lau's enlarged catalog show that the finds are scattered throughout Europe and Lau has proposes that the tokens were issued to verify a persons legitimacy in trade. The blundered legends would then be forgeries of the originals with "Benno me facit" legends.
Estimate: 2000 EUR