Bracteate
The bracteate is a characteristic coin shape from the Middle Ages and, in numismatic terms, is one of the most significant phenomena in German coinage between the 12th and 14th centuries. The term ‘bracteate’ is derived from the Latin bractea, meaning ‘thin metal plate’ – a reference to the strikingly thin nature of these coins. Bracteates were minted on one side only, meaning that they feature a raised image on the front, while the reverse side is mirror-inverted (negative). This was achieved by minting on a very thin blank with only one die, whereby the lower die served merely as a hard resistance.
Bracteates were particularly widespread in the Holy Roman Empire and were minted by numerous princes, bishops and cities. The motifs varied depending on the mint master and could show portraits of rulers, coats of arms, ecclesiastical symbols or stylised architectural elements. Of
particular interest to numismatic research is the large number of different types, many of which were only minted for short periods of time. This is related to coin debasement, a common practice at the time whereby old coins were regularly withdrawn and replaced with new ones, often for a fee. This system not only served to renew the coinage in circulation, but also represented a significant source of income for the coin masters.
From today’s perspective, bracteates are not only evidence of medieval monetary policy, but also objects of art-historical value. The fine reliefs and detailed depictions, despite the coins’ thinness, testify to a high level of craftsmanship. In addition, bracteates offer exciting insights into the political and economic structure of the medieval empire, as each coin was closely linked to the authority of its issuer.
Today, bracteates are particularly appealing to collectors and numismatists – not only because of their aesthetic and historical significance, but also because of their rarity and diversity. Each individual coin tells a piece of history about regional power relations, ecclesiastical influence or economic developments. In a numismatic context, bracteates thus represent a fascinating bridge between monetary history, medieval research and craftsmanship.