Viking Danegeld Silver Denier of Charles II Melle Mint

Code: 11291

This is a Carolingian silver Denier of Charles II (The Bald), minted between 840 - 877 A.D.

Obverse: + CARLVS REX FR Cross.

Reverse: + METVLLO. mint name around Carlvs monogram

The first payment of Danegeld to the Vikings in West Francia took place in 845 when, under Ragnar Lothbrok, the Vikings attacked Paris. The army was bought off from destroying the city by a massive payment of nearly six tons of silver and gold bullion. Most of the coins from the Danegeld were melted into bars, ingots, silver bracelets and chopped as hack-silver for use in a bullion economy. 

A good example in excavated condition, the flan has a crack and chip (see photos for condition)

DENOMINATION: Denier

CULTURE: Carolingian

DATE: 840 - 877 A.D.

MATERIAL: Silver

SIZE: 21mm diameter

WEIGHT: 1.44 grams

ATTRIBUTION: G.209, p.159 (13/209) - Prou.692-697 - MG.1063 - MEC.1/923-933 - N.94 (à Charlemagne, sic)