Bárkányi Ildikó - Lajkó Orsolya (szerk.): A Móra Ferenc Múzeum Évkönyve 2019. Új folyam 6. (Szeged, 2019)

Numizmatika - Ujszászó Róbert: Közöletlen obulus a XIII. századból

Róbert Ujszászi

Unpublished obol from the 13th century

Unpublished obol from the 13th century

Róbert Ujszászi

Obol stamping in Hungary began in the 13th century, in the second half of the reign of Andrew 11(1205-1235).With presenting a new kind of obol, the present article makes an effort to expand the range ofthese coins. The obol to be presented is a half-value counterpart of the H 327 denarius. Its diameter is 10 mm, its weight is 0.24 g, its material seems to be good quality silver, like in case of the denarius. The earliest mint, where the preview of the front side illustration appears, is the CNA C u 6 type, but it differs in many ways from the Hungarian type. Later, however, there are at least a dozen instances of direct previews appearing on friesachi-ty pes. This is another wellknown takeover pattern in Hungarian monetary history. Most types that may be considered as samples can be dated between 1220 and 1240.

The H 327 denarius and its counterpart about to be presented require a joint analysis. One of the most interesting characteristics of H 327 is that there are various markings on both

the front and backside in several variations. On the horseman side, one may observe at least five variations, the most important being the simplified lily under the belly of the horse. The use of this motif is not exclusive to money; it also appears on royal seals. First it was used for a horse seal of Stephen V, which he used in the beginning of his reign. The distinctive features were supposedly added to the image of the seal in 1261. We may find similar additional elements, right until the age of Andrew III but as throne ornaments, but horse stamps.

In addition to presenting the unknown obol type my goal is to date it as well, together with its well-known counterpart, the H 327 denarius. After iconographic and stylistic analyzes and a brief overview of the finds and the weight system I believe the obol-denarius pair can rightfully be dated to a period between 1260 and 1272, thus they may be considered as mints of Béla IV or the money of Stephen V.

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