MÜLHAUSEN ROYAL MINT, LANDGRAFEN THÜRINGEN, Bonhoff 1212 var, Date 1199-1204 AD, BI Silver Brakteat

★ Extremely rare Brakteat - i find only 3 another examples at acsearch last 20 years - fantastic stylistic presentation with King riding with raised sword, shield and banner - an unusual, not common depiction of other bracteates - a very fine detailed representation - big c. 40mm Brakteat - near extremely fine condition - well centered - great patina colour shade - not only an extremely rare type, also extremely rare to get in this condition ★
MEDIEVAL GERMAN COINS, ROYAL MINT OF MÜHLHAUSEN
Reign: under the pledge of the Landgraves of Thuringia, Hermann von Thüringen 1199-1204 AD under Philipp von Schwaben 1198-1208 AD
Mint: Mühlhausen, Royal Mint
Date: c. 1199/1204 AD
Nominal: Brakteat (Bracteate)
Material: BI Silver
Diameter: c. 40mm
Weight: 0.90g
Pedigree: Ex Leipziger Münzhandlung Heidrun Höhn, Leipzig, Germany, Auction 96, Lot 1131, Year 2021
Reference: Berger -
Reference: Buchenau -
Reference: Leschhorn 4685
Reference: Fd. von Seega 67
Reference: Bonhoff 1212 var.
Reference: Slg. Hohenstaufer 904
Obverse: King riding to the right with banner and shield with 2 balls. Above the horse's croup an imperial orb with footed cross, above the horse's head an eight-pointed star. On the outer rim above 3 balls and on the sides and below 1 ball
Inscription: NCALVONORVONCVLIPPOCRPVCDIVONOIC
Translation: -
Comment: Mühlhausen was first mentioned in a document as mulinhuson by Emperor Otto II in 967 AD. It was the centre of an important imperial estate with a fortified royal court, the origins of which date back to Charlemagne's Frankish Empire. The development of the old town (market settlement) began in the 11th century, followed by the new town around St Mary's Church in the 12th century under Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa. In 1135 AD, Emperor Lothar III finally reconciled with Konrad von Staufen in the ‘villa regia’ Mühlhausen, as it was called for the first time. In 1135 AD, Mühlhausen was the first place in Thuringia to receive city rights. Henry the Lion conquered Mühlhausen, which had developed into an important centre of imperial power, in 1180 AD. Around 1200 AD, the town wall was built around the town centre (49 hectares) with seven double gates and 38 defence and pulpit towers and a length of 2.7 kilometres. Mühlhausen, originally a royal chamber estate, was granted minting and customs rights at the beginning of the 13th century. At the same time, the town was walled off from the castle, which was ruled by a royal burgrave. Around 1220 AD, the ‘Mühlhäuser Reichsrechtsbuch’ was recorded in accordance with imperial law (the oldest city law book in the German language). It also became the law applicable to the imperial city of Nordhausen. On the Friday before Palm Sunday in 1251 AD, the citizens of Mühlhausen repelled an enemy attack and thus secured the Staufer rule of the town. King Konrad IV then privileged Mühlhausen, which promoted the implementation of a council constitution and the expansion of municipal self-government. The year 1251 AD marks an important milestone on Mühlhausen's path to becoming a free imperial city. Further milestones were the destruction of the imperial castle in the town centre by the citizens in 1256 AD and finally the recognition by King Rudolf of Habsburg in 1290 AD of the constitutional changes implemented within the town.