Denaro of Lucca
11th–12th century ・ billon ・ 11th century ・ Lucca
obverse
reverse
The Carolingian denaro grew thinner everywhere, and by the twelfth century it was a small, flimsy coin of low fineness. The denaro of Lucca, a regional standard bearing the name of Emperor Henry, has silver that shows dark. A real object from the age when money could not keep pace with reviving trade—the thirst that would summon the grosso and the return of gold.