At our Auction 14 – Polish protective bracteate of Bolesław III Wrymouth with a beautifully depicted St. Wojciech (a wreath on his head) and a prince.

A historically important Polish protective bracteate of Bolesław III Wrymouth with a beautifully depicted St. Wojciech (a wreath on his head) and a prince.

The coin, which was once called penitential, seeing in it a reference to the pilgrimage of Prince Bolesław to the grave of St. Wojciech in Gniezno in 1113. This concerned penance for the blinding and death of his older brother, Zbigniew.

Only Ryszard Kiersnowski associated this coin with the manifesto of Bolesław Wrymouth after the Polish prince paid homage in Merseburg to Emperor Lothair III. He dated this event around 1135. The iconography was supposed to proclaim that the Polish prince was under the protection of Saint Adalbert, hence the description of such bracteates as protective.

In turn, the research of Witold Garbaczewski shed a different light on the essence of the emission of this bracteate. Mr. Garbaczewski sees in it the effect of the monetary reform from the end of Wrymouth’s reign, the purpose of which was to supply the treasury to pay tribute to Lothair III, and dates this type to 1137.

A drawing characterized by a ball finish of details.

Wojciech’s outfit, including a sleeve with ball decorations, a wreath on his head.

A beautifully preserved copy, with a charming patina and gloss in the background, plastic relief, slight imperfections. To the best collections – we definitely recommend it.

obverse: St. Wojciech standing straight, with his head turned to the left, holding a crosier in his left hand, right hand raised in a gesture of care over the kneeling prince, legend around

Silver, diameter 28 mm, weight 0.62 g.