ND (c.1136). AR "Penitential" Bracteate (0.68 gm) (27.5mm). Cracow Mint. Figure kneeling before standing bishop, legend ...

ND (c.1136). AR "Penitential" Bracteate (0.68 gm) (27.5mm). Cracow Mint. Figure kneeling before standing bishop, legend above. Gum. 81; Kop. 47; HCz. 4 (R6) (legend variety); Stron. 65p; Kal. 33 (R4). Toned EF, very slight trace of flan fold from 5-7 with strike weakness within this area. The cataloger's favorite medieval Polish coin!
Ex Stanislaw Herstal (American Auction Association, 7-9 February 1974), lot 1634; ex Lepczyk Auction 58 (27 July 1984), lot 1059. For centuries this coin was believed to depict St. Adalbert giving absolution to the kneeling king in 1113 for having his brother, Zbigniew, blinded, an act which soon led to his death. Recent scholars suggest Boleslaus, while on a trip to Germany in 1135, saw one of the newly minted large bracteates of Magdeburg and was so impressed, he copied it!