Caption

Denarius, Boleslaw III Krzywousty (prince of Poland; 1086–1138). Obverse: in a beaded border, a knight in chain mail thrusting a spearhead into the jaws of a dragon turned upside down. Reverse: in a triple beaded border, an isosceles cross topped with spheres (one with a dot); between its arms, one sun (two of them with a dot). Allegories of martyrs, knight, dragons; themes: fight between good and evil, fight against pagans. Romanesque style. References to equal-armed cross, crosses, spear/spearhead, jaws, chain mail, Adalbert (Saint; ca. 956–997). Date: ca. 1125–1138. Place: Poland, Kraków. Coin; diameter 12.7–13.0 mm; weight 0.70 g. State of preservation: very good.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A64_188

License type

Rights managed

Available size

27.0Mb (1.2Mb) / 10.2in x 10.2in / 3071 x 3071 (300dpi)

Keywords

Denarius Boleslaw III Krzywousty prince Poland 1086–1138 Obverse beaded border knight chain mail thrusting spearhead jaws dragon turned upside down Reverse triple beaded border isosceles cross topped spheres dot arms sun two them Allegories martyrs dragons themes fight good evil pagans Romanesque style References equal-armed cross crosses spear chain mail Adalbert Saint ca 956–997 Date 1125–1138 Place Kraków Coin diameter 12.7–13.0 mm weight 0.70 g State preservation circular metallic object worn raised design sits white background object silver-gray darker gray shadows recessed areas slight highlights raised parts design central figure rounded features looks stylized headdress decorative border surrounded concentric banding textured elements surface irregular edges small pits giving aged uneven appearance.