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Pfennig - Henry II
| Issuer | Duchy of Austria (Austrian States) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1141-1177 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
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|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A standing or enthroned figure, likely a lion or heraldic animal passant, rendered in a bold Romanesque style within a beaded inner circle, consistent with the heraldic imagery of the Babenberg dynasty. The field is flat with a finely beaded border enclosing the central device. The design is characteristic of Austrian bracteate-influenced pfennig coinage of the second half of the 12th century, with the motif occupying most of the flan. Secondary floral or pellet ornaments appear in the field to either side of the principal device. |
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| Additional information |
Henry II of Austria — "Jasomirgott," as he was known, a nickname derived from his habitual oath — presided over a pivotal elevation in Austrian status. In 1156, the Privilegium Minus granted by Frederick Barbarossa transformed Austria from a margraviate into a hereditary duchy, partly as compensation for Henry's surrender of Bavaria. The pfennigs struck under his authority thus span one of the more consequential political reorganizations in the medieval German-speaking world.
The bracteate-influenced broad flan typical of mid-12th century Austrian coinage made these pieces notoriously fragile in circulation. CNA B19 is among the better-documented types from his reign.