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Charlemagne (768-814). King of the Franks and father of Europe.
AR Denier. Mediolanum (Milan). AD793-812. Obv: CARLVS REX FR.
Rev: KAROLUS monogram surrounded by MEDIOL (Mediolanum or modern day Milan).
Widely regarded as the Father of Europe, he was the Founder of the Carolingian and Holy Roman Empire. His father Pepin the Short succeeded the French Merovingian court and under Charlemagne expanded and United much of Western Europe after the fall of the western Roman Empire. His reign heralded a period known as the Carolingian Renaissance and help establish the foundations of modern Europe beginning from his time through to the polity he established under the Holy Roman Empire.
His monetary reform led to the introduction of the denier (named after the Roman Denarius) a silver standard which set the foundation of the currency system through much of medieval and early European history. The denier was the basis of the English Penny before the introduction of larger denominations centuries after Charlemagne.
Collection : Holy Roman Empire