Caption

Denarius, Boleslaw III Krzywousty (prince of Poland; 1086–1138). Romanesque silver coin, ca. 1125–1138, Poland, Kraków. Diameter 11.8–12.1 mm, weight 0.47 g. 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 topped with balls (one with a dot); at the intersection of the arms a ball; one arm intersects the other at approx. one-third of its length. Iconography: knight, chain mail, spear/spearhead, dragon, fight between good and evil, martyrs; allegorical depiction related to fight against pagans; inscriptions/marks include equal-armed cross and issue mark.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A64_198

License type

Rights managed

Available size

27.0Mb (1.1Mb) / 10.2in x 10.2in / 3071 x 3071 (300dpi)

Keywords

Denarius Boleslaw III Krzywousty prince Poland 1086–1138 Romanesque silver coin ca 1125–1138 Kraków Diameter 11.8–12.1 mm weight 0.47 g Obverse in beaded border knight chain mail thrusting spearhead jaws upside-down dragon Reverse in triple isosceles cross topped balls dot intersection arms ball arm intersects approx -third length Iconography chain mail spear dragon fight good evil martyrs allegorical depiction related pagans inscriptions marks include equal-armed cross issue mark circular metallic object textured worn surface sits white background object raised irregular shapes relief suggest figures forms areas light shadow creating highlights darker gray tones metal silver-gray patches darker gray slightly reflective spots edge slightly rim uneven contour.