MEROVINGIANS, Marseille. Agnericus. Patrician of Provence, circa 691. AR Denier (10mm, 1.06 g, 12h). VF.

Electronic Auction 610 – Session 2
Lot: 1312. Estimated: $ 300

Early Medieval, Silver

Sold For $ 800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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MEROVINGIANS, Marseille. Agnericus. Patrician of Provence, circa 691. AR Denier (10mm, 1.06 g, 12h). Monogram containing letters A N O R I C V S / Monogram containing letters M A S I L flanked by two crosses. Cossettini, “Pouvoir politique et partage, crainte, opposition et résignation, d’après le monnayage provençal du dernier quart du VIIe siècle,” in Du trésor royal au salaire de la mine: monnaies, monétaires et pouvoirs Mérovingiens (Paris, 2025), fig. 14 = CGB (5 March 2024), lot 317 = CGB Monnaies 38 (30 April 2009), lot 1688 var. (slightly different arrangement of monogram); cf. M. Dhénin & P. Schiesser, “Oboles mérovingiennes,” in RN 163 (2007), 16 = CGF Monnaies XI (21 January 2002), lot 596 (for obol; uncertain); NM –; Belfort –; MEC 1, –. Toned. VF. Extremely rare – only one example on CoinArchives, this the second known.

From the James A. Lock Collection.

The monograms on this extremely rare type, known on both deniers and oboles, have been previously read as ANTENOR and MASSILIA, indicating an issue of Antenor, Patrician of Provence. However, the reverse monogram does not quite fit, and the clear S on this example complicates the reading of Antenor. Philippe Cossettini recently published a new study re-evaluating the early deniers of Marseille, in which he provides a convincing new interpretation for the obverse monogram as that of Agnericus, Patrician of Provence, who held the position only briefly in 691. He was replaced by Ansedertus shortly after the death of king Thierry III.

Closing Date and Time: 4 June 2026 at 11:43:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.