Caption

Denarius, Boleslaw III Krzywousty (Prince of Poland; r. 1107–1138). Obverse (in beaded border): a knight in chain mail thrusting a spearhead into the jaws of an upside-down dragon. Reverse (in triple beaded border): an isosceles cross terminated with crossbars, a dot at the crossbar intersection; between the arms, radiating spheres (smaller ones near the center, larger ones—three with a dot each). Motifs: allegories, martyrs, knight, dragons, fight against pagans, fight between good and evil; iconographic references to Adalbert (Saint, ca. 956–997). Romanesque style. Issue mark: spearhead. Date: c. 1125–1138. Place: Poland, Kraków. Coin; diameter 12.3–12.8 mm; weight 0.54 g.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A63_052

License type

Rights managed

Available size

29.3Mb (1.1Mb) / 10.7in x 10.7in / 3200 x 3200 (300dpi)

Keywords

Denarius Boleslaw III Krzywousty Prince Poland r 1107–1138 Obverse in beaded border knight chain mail thrusting spearhead jaws upside-down dragon Reverse in triple isosceles cross terminated crossbars dot crossbar intersection arms radiating spheres smaller ones near center larger ones three Motifs allegories martyrs dragons fight pagans good evil iconographic references Adalbert Saint ca 956–997 Romanesque style Issue mark Date c 1125–1138 Place Kraków Coin diameter 12.3–12.8 mm weight 0.54 g small circular metallic object sits near white background silver-gray darker gray shadows lighter highlights raised textured surface showing stylized human figure holding long implement right shield rounded object left patterned beaded decoration figure's clothing series short lines near implement's tip.