The Most Expensive: Medieval Bracteates
Bracteates are thin, fragile and one-sided coins common in medieval central Europe that have an impressive artistic image quality. We show the ten most expensive bracteates that have been sold at auctions.
01Norway. Sverre Sigurdsson. Bracteate, 1177-1202, Bergen. EF-VF. From auction Bruun Rasmussen 764 (2006), lot 5332.
02Bishopric of Halberstadt. Ulrich von Reinstein. Bracteate, 1149-1160. EF. From auction Künker 301 (2018), lot 520.
03Staufer. Friedrich Barbarossa. Bracteate, c. 1180-1190, Gelnhausen. Exceptional specimen. From Auktion Numismatica Genevensis 10 (2018), lot 128.
04Poland. Bolesław III Wrymouth. Bracteate, ca. 1133. Mint of Krakow or Gniezno. From auction Antykwariat Numizmatyczny – Michal Niemczyk 5 (2014), lot 17.
05Landgrafschaft Thuringia. Ludwig III. the Pious. Bracteate, 1172-1190, Gotha mint. Superb EF. From auction Classical Numismatic Grouo Triton XXIII (2020), lot 1098.
06Nordhausen. Abby zum Heiligen Kreuz. Abess Cäcilia. Bracteate, 1140-1160, Nordhausen. EF. From auction Künker 301 (2018) lot 508.
07County Falkenstein. Burkhard II. Bracteate, 1142-1174. EF-FDC. From auction Künker 301 (2018), los 545.
08Bishopric of Merseburg. Johann I. Bracteate, 1151-1170. EF-FDC. From auction Künker 301 (2018), lot 560.
09Poland. Henry the Bearded (?). Bracteate, Kalisz (?). Unique. EF. “A unique type of Polish bacteat – depicting a walking Angel with a cross on his chest, known so far only from engravings!“ From auction Gabinet Numizmatyczny D. Marciniak 10 (2020), lot 22.
10Staufer. Konrad III. Bracteate 1138-1152, Royal Mint at Mühlhausen, Thuringia. Almost FDC. “One of the most impressive testimonies of the Hohenstaufen coin art.” From auction Künker 301 (2018), lot 502.
