Silver Pfennigs and Small Silver Coins of Europe in the Middle Ages
Silver Pfennigs and Small Silver Coins of Europe in the Middle Ages
Silver Pfennigs and Small Silver Coins of Europe in the Middle Ages
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Otakar III., 1129 - 1164<br />
Ottokar III (1124 – December 31, 1164), was Margrave <strong>of</strong> Styria from 1129 until 1164. He was <strong>the</strong> son <strong>of</strong><br />
Leopold <strong>the</strong> Strong <strong>and</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Ottokar IV, <strong>the</strong> last <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dynasty <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Otakars. His wife was Kunigunde<br />
<strong>of</strong> Chamb-Vohburg.<br />
From <strong>the</strong> Marburg l<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Counts <strong>of</strong> Sponheim, he <strong>in</strong>herited parts <strong>of</strong> Lower Styria between <strong>the</strong> Drave<br />
<strong>and</strong> Save rivers <strong>in</strong> what is today Slovenia. From his uncle, <strong>the</strong> last Count <strong>of</strong> Formbach, he <strong>in</strong>herited <strong>the</strong><br />
County <strong>of</strong> Pitten <strong>in</strong> 1158, which is today <strong>in</strong> Lower Austria, but rema<strong>in</strong>ed part <strong>of</strong> Styria until <strong>the</strong> 16th century.<br />
To improve <strong>the</strong> connection to that territory, he improved <strong>the</strong> road across <strong>the</strong> Semmer<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> he also erected<br />
a hospital <strong>in</strong> Spital am Semmer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1160 <strong>and</strong> completed <strong>the</strong> colonization <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> area around <strong>the</strong><br />
Traisen <strong>and</strong> Gölsen rivers.<br />
Ottokar exercised seigniorage over natural resources <strong>of</strong> his realm, extended territorial rule <strong>and</strong> m<strong>in</strong>ted his<br />
own co<strong>in</strong>s. He also founded <strong>the</strong> August<strong>in</strong>ian monastery <strong>of</strong> Vorau <strong>and</strong> supported <strong>the</strong> Carthusian monastery<br />
<strong>of</strong> Seitz.<br />
From <strong>the</strong> Second Crusade, he brought Byzant<strong>in</strong>e craftsmen to Styria.<br />
Austria<br />
Duchy <strong>of</strong> Steiermark<br />
Otakar III., 1129 - 1164<br />
Pfennig (ca. 1160-1170), M<strong>in</strong>t: Enns. 24 mm 0,83g.<br />
Obv.: Large head look<strong>in</strong>g left with moustache, hair <strong>and</strong> cap <strong>in</strong> double<br />
pearled circle.<br />
Rev.: Angel wil cross <strong>in</strong> h<strong>and</strong> fac<strong>in</strong>g slightly right.<br />
Großer Kopf l<strong>in</strong>ks mit Schnurrbart, Haar und Kappe im doppelten<br />
Perlkreis. Rs: Engel mit Kreuz rechts. In double pearled circle; wirit<strong>in</strong>g<br />
around circles.<br />
Rev.: Hippmann 10F var. Greatest rarity; f<strong>in</strong>e ton<strong>in</strong>g. Weakly struck at<br />
edges, but beautiful!<br />
Estimate: EUR 1500. Price realized: 1,000 EUR (approx. 1,346 U.S.<br />
Dollars as <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> auction date)<br />
Austria<br />
Duchy <strong>of</strong> Steiermark<br />
Otakar III., 1129 - 1164 or Ottokar IV 1164-1192<br />
Th<strong>in</strong> Pfennig, M<strong>in</strong>t: Enns. 0,85g.<br />
Obv.: Bearded head <strong>in</strong> 3/4-pr<strong>of</strong>ile left.<br />
Angel with cross look<strong>in</strong>g to right.<br />
Reference: CNA 77 d var.. Slightly curved, VF.<br />
Estimate: 100 EUR. Price realized: 230 EUR (approx. 294 U.S. Dollars as<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> auction date)
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