Hugh IV
9/30/2011 link back up to main Chapter 262 Coins
Duke of Burgundy, France
A funny thing happened during research to identify my unsolved mystery coin as a 1237 Hugh IV crusader coin.
It could be the missing link between Great Uncle Martin and Uncle Nelson. Uncle Martin had given lands to the Knights Templar about the same time my coin was made. The cross on the coin is symbolic of Christianity and the Crusades, the epic battle between Christians and Muslims in Europe. It turns out to be a French feudal coin made for the Duke of Burgundy who participated in the Sixth Crusade. It is also a continuation in a series of denier coins started by Charlemagne in 793. It was he, who accepted the surrender of his non-believer pagan arch enemy at Paderborn, Germany in 785. Paderborn was also where the "superior race" Nazis accepted the surrender of Uncle Nelson on Oct 17, 1944. Then I discovered that the Master Interrogator of Uncle Nelson had since moved to the US where his art is displayed at Disney World.
A/. Dans le champ, DVX entre deux traits sur une annille between two lines on an annile. R/. Croix cantonnée d’un trèfle à longue queue en 2 et 3.
- Références : Dumas-Dubourg, n°8-1-1 – Poey d’Avant, n°12 pl. CXXXI
- Billon. 0,95g. (5h)
trois annulets three annulets
BURGUNDY (Bourgogne) - Hugh IV of Burgundy (1218-72) billon denier. +VGO BVRGONDIE, central cross with diagonal staff topped by three pellets on each side. Rev: AVSONIENSIS, central Anille Auxonne artillery school where Napoleon later trained. Auxonne was diocese of Besancon, a place acquired in exchange by Huges de Chalons, Duke of Burgundy, where Huges in 1237 struck certain deniers with Vgo Bvrgund DVX on obv. and Rev Avsoniensis.
The denier was introduced by Charlemagne and derived from the Roman denarius. Basically a penny and adopted in the English pound system after the French occupation. Thus, we get the ten penny nail now described as 10d.
This feudal coin originated in medieval fiefdom of France. The clue to France was the scrolly things that looked like the French Fleur de Lis (Lily) but missing the third central flower. DVX (partially visible) is the abbreviation DUK for DUKE. Burgundy is a Region or Department now but there have been changing borders and names over time. Suffice to say that it is famous for red wine with Dijon is it's capitol city today. A three leaf clover or lily on a rulers staff seems to be the symbol on my coin. The clover is shown on a staff for St Felix of Burgundy 647 who brought Christianity to the Kingdom of East Anglia . [That's on or near the Olmsted roots in Suffolk- Essex where the Danish Vikings later over from the Anglo Saxons.] Three rings on this bishops fingers are linked to the Holy Trinity. The 3 fleur de lis appears in the staff of St Patrick of Ireland, although there is some controversy concerning the 3 leaf clover shamrock symbol. The 3 rings could also relate to a Bishop.
The Duke of Burgundy ruled the Duchy of Burgundy. The is County of Burgundy was a more easterly area. Today's Burgundy Region.
My old coin was a hammered silver coin from dies made of billon an alloy of mostly copper with a little silver or even just a wash of silver. Found the match on this French coin web site in item 308. This medallion shows Hugh IV participating in the Sixth Crusade in 1239 representing the Duchy of Burgundy. Most rulers of yesteryear actually participated in battle as commanders-in-chief as opposed to today.
What really drew me to the coin was the cross. Religious symbols were more prevalent in early coins. During the medieval era there was intense passion surrounding the Crusades. The Christian side displayed many iconic variations of the cross. Nothing divides people with passion like religion. You can see it in thousand year old coins or in today's headline news.
Similar crosses: include the Order of Christ cross . the cross pattee, Greek cross, the cross fourchee, cross bontonee, cross potent, cross crosslet, and cross moline.
Charlemagne (742-814) reorganized the monetary system, devising the system of pounds, shillings and pence used throughout Europe in the middle ages and in Britain until the 1970s. As King of the Franks and King Charles the first Holy Roman Emperor, he was a very important historical figure in Western European history. He is responsible for ninety percent of the works of ancient Rome now in existence are preserved in the form of eighth- and ninth-century manuscripts copied in Carolingian monasteries.
Charlemagne was a staunch Catholic and fought vigorously for the cause in the various religious wars.
Charlemagne accepted his defeated arch enemy Saxon pagan leader Widukind at Paderborn (Germany) in 785.
Oct 17, 1944 Unc Nelson captured near Paderborn. Disturbing Video of Paderborn POW camp for Russians (@ 3 min mark)
Oct 5, 1944 Allied Bombers were sent to bomb Paderborn Airfield (mission #20 Lippstadt Dad's plane bombed Rheine marshalling yards)
K and I in toured within a few hundred miles of these sites.
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