Frankish Denier of Achaea

The most intriguing aspect of the Frankish Denier of Achaea is how it adapted the Carolingian denier design for a Greek outpost, often inscribing the prince's name alongside a cross to assert feudal control over former Byzantine lands.

This silver coin, struck in the Principality of Achaea from around 1205, circulated in the Peloponnese during the Frankish occupation of Morea. Minters likely used local silver sources, though exact alloys remain debated among scholars. Weights varied, sometimes as low as 0.5 grams, which made them practical for small transactions in a war-torn region.

We don't know the precise mint locations; some were probably mobile to evade conflicts. That variability kept things interesting for me over the years.

Records of annual production are scarce, lost to time and later upheavals, so estimates are just guesses. I've handled dozens, each a reminder that coins don't lie about history's messiness.