ABSTRACT:

Forgeries of coins can either be contemporary or modern. Already in the Middle Ages, it was well known that bracteates were considerably more difficult to counterfeit than two-faced coins. The main reason is that bracteates are struck with a more complicated technology originating from goldsmithing. Therefore, most bracteate forgeries have been produced since the eighteenth century. Compared to original bracteates, modern bracteate forgeries often have the following characteristics: 1) an incorrect weight; 2) a lower relief; 3) sharper contours on the reverse; 4) an artistically clumsy design; 5) evidence of being struck with the same die if there are several specimens; and/or 6) empty fields in the background.

During archaeological excavation conducted in 2017 between the streets of St. Katarzyna, St. Wit, Wit Stwosz and Nowy Targ Square in Wrocław 46 numismatic objects were discovered – 37 coins, 4 jetons, 4 objects related to numismatics (silver planchet, a small piece of cast silver and two containers for bracteates – one lid and one bottom, from various containers) and one lead token. Early medieval, late medieval and early modern coins appeared. The most interesting are the thirteenth-century Silesian bracteates of the Ratajski and Kałowice types. During excavation a rare Prague parvus of Wenceslas II was also found. Among all the coins, one of the most interesting is counterfeited West Pomeranian denier of Bogusław I, Duke of Pomerania. All analyzed coins constitute a cumulative find that was found in one of Wrocław’s auxiliary markets of medieval origin.

This article discusses the use of small lead seals (seal tags) in early medieval Poland for commercial and customs control in the context of an economic crisis. The introduction of sealing goods by the Piasts is explained by its cultural transfer from Rus’. Polish commercial lead seals were in use synchronously with Hohlpfennigs from the middle of the 13th to the middle of the 14th century. Their design systematically reflected signs and symbols on bracteates and differed significantly from other small seals of Drohiczyn type from Rus’. The extraordinary number of small lead seals found at Drohiczyn possibly reflects a short- -term relocation of trade routes caused by military conflicts.