Bearn coins catalog with values

Viscounts of Bearn

The viscountcy was formed in the 9th century. Viscounts were vassals of the Duke of Gascony. Since 1472, Béarn belonged to the kings of Navarre, who were also viscounts. In 1607, the viscountcy, together with Navarre, was annexed to the kingdom of France.

 

 

denier

Centules (XI-XIII century)

There were several Centules. Santul I seems to have begun to rule around 844, and his father was also called Santul and he was also a viscount, so it is not clear why this particular Santul was number one. There is no reliable information about this period, but it is unlikely that these coins began to be minted under Santul I. The style is not the same, and in general, it is unlikely that such an insignificant lord in the 9th century. could afford to mint coins (simply for material reasons). The same applies to Santul II (?-c.940) and Santul III (?-c.1004).
But Santul IV the Old (?-1058), who began to rule ca. 1022, was already quite an influential person. He significantly increased his possessions by marrying the heiress of the neighboring Viscount Oloron, and in 1039 he was even one of the candidates for the throne of the Duke of Gascony and Aquitaine, which was vacated after the murder of Duke Ed. He failed to become a duke, but he negotiated the right to independence of the viscountcy from Aquitaine. Santul IV was killed in one of the border skirmishes (1058) and was succeeded by his grandson Santul V the Young (?-1090).
Santul V most likely began the minting of coins, since at that time there was definitely a mint in Morlans. The Viscount continued to distance himself from Aquitaine, of which he was still a vassal of the Duke. To counter this vassalage, he entered into an alliance with the king of neighboring Aragon. In 1090, at the head of the Béarn army, he went to the aid of the Aragonese king and was killed in battle.
He was succeeded by his son Gaston IV (?-1131), nicknamed the Crusader, because he participated in the First Crusade (1096), where he was not among the leaders, but commanded a fairly significant detachment. He was a pious man and built several churches. Under him, the territory of the viscountcy continued to gradually increase. There are no coins with his name, but most likely minting continued with the name Centullus. Gaston died in 1131 and was succeeded by his young son.
Gaston's wife, Thales, niece of the King of Aragon and Navarre, Sancho Ramirez, became the regent. She dreamed of uniting Bearn with Aragon. This, however, did not happen, since Aragon preferred unification with Catalonia. Santul VI (?-1134) was a minor in 1131, but in 1134 he found himself at the head of the Béarn army, helping King Alfonso I of Aragon in the reconquista. Together they defeated the Almoravids at Fraga, but Santul died there. Since he died and was not killed, we must assume that he never reached adulthood and commanded the army only formally. This was the last Centulus and was succeeded by Guiscard's elder sister and then by her son Pedro II.
Coins bearing the name Centul most likely continued to be minted long after the death of the last Viscount of that name.

 

 

denier no date
silver
CENTVLLO COM
ONOR FORCAS / PAX
Value - 25-35 USD

 

obole (1/2 denier) no date
silver
CENTVLLO COM
ONOR FORCAS / PAX
Value - 25-30 USD

 

 

Ecu=60 sol; Sol=12 deniers; Liard=3 deniers

Henry II (king of France Henry IV since 1589) (1572-1610)

1/4 ecu 1604
silver
GRATIA DEI SVM Q D SVM 1604 / II II
HENRICVS IIII D G FRANC ET NAVA REX
Value - 90-100 USD

 

douzain (1/12 ecu) 1592
billon
GRATIA DEI SVM Q D SVM 1592 / H / H
HENRICVS 4 D G FRANC ET NAV REX
Value - 45-55 USD

 

 

Louis XIII king of France (1610-1643)

vacquette (liard) no date
billon
GRATIA DEI SVM ID Q SVM
LUDIVI 13 D G F ET NAV REX
Value - 40-50 USD

 

 

 

 

 

Coins of Bearn in the catalog are presented divided by historical periods, indicating the main characteristics and differences by type.
Inside the sections, the coins are sorted by denomination - from large to small.
The cost of the coin is approximate and is indicated specifically for the coin shown in the picture. You can use this price to evaluate similar coins (of the same type), but remember that the value is affected by many factors, such as the state of preservation and the date of minting. The cost of coins of the same type can vary greatly depending on the number of surviving copies.
Coins of Bearn presented on this page are not sold or bought - this is only a catalog.