Charles V Denier

Charles V's denier was instrumental in standardizing France's silver currency during a time when coins varied wildly in weight, helping to curb the rampant counterfeiting of the era.

This small silver piece, typically weighing around 0.8 grams, bore a simple cross on one side and the king's initial on the other. Minted in cities like Paris under the Valois dynasty, it circulated widely among peasants and merchants alike. The coin's design reflected Charles's efforts to restore economic stability after the Hundred Years' War's disruptions.

We don't know the exact mintage figures; records from that period are scarce. What survives shows variations in die quality, likely due to rushed production.

One oddity: For a king known as "the Wise," his denier was remarkably plain, almost as if he preferred substance over show.