Carolingian. Charles the Fat or Charles the Simple (881-923) Denier ND (884-923) MS61 NGC, Bourges mint, MEC I-914-915 var. (there, with V in CARLVS), MG-1484 var. (same), Dep-198. 1.66gm. +CΛRLS IMP (bar of contraction over M) ΛVC (inverted A for V), cross potent / +BITVRICES CIVI, Karolus monogram. An immobilized type, although these Bourges pieces have classically been ascribed to the period between the reigns of Charles the Bald and Charles the Fat (the former being the first Charles of the dynasty after his grandfather to assume the title of emperor), it is much more likely that they were struck under either Charles the Fat or Charles the Simple. The primary evidence for this theory comes from the fact that Charles the Bald was emperor for only 2 years (assuming the imperial dignity in 875) before his death, while the immense numbers of these Bourges deniers suggest a much longer period of issue. As noted by Simon Coupland, this type was clearly in circulation for a long while after their initial issue, as 18 ended up in the Cuerdale hoard of c. 905 and 17 in the Rennes hoard of c. 920. Finer than most surviving examples of this typically crude type.

HID09801242017

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