Denarius, type 1, var 1

Obverse

Obverse legend

Reverse legend

Reverse

CARLVS REX FR (circular legend with the letter S tilted, around the Carolus monogram (1) surrounded by a circle made up of dots, a cross between FR and CARLVS)

AVRELIANIS (circular legend with the letter S inclined, around a cross surrounded by a circle made up of points, a cross between the letters S and A).

Photo of a coin sold by cgb.fr, link to the sale and their website: https://www.cgb.fr/charles-ier-dit-charlemagne-denier-ttb-sup,v61_0403,a.html.

Monograms Carolus:

(1) Without letter A in the diamond on the middle, all letters inscribed normally.

(2) With the letter A inscribed at the top in the diamond on the middle, the letters C and R inscribed normally, the letter L with the curved end, the letter S inscribed normally.

Hard to see if the diamond in the middle of the monogramm is empty or not, the coin is too much worn. I nevertheless noted the diamond as containing a letter A, one seems to distinguish a remainder of letter..

The two coins that I could observe (type 1 and type 1, var 1) have the same shape of letter at the beginning of monogram, while the dies are different. It is therefore indeed a letter C. Unlike the mints of Agen and Bourges, this monogram is associated with a long and complete legend (as is the case too for other mints). Type 1 has the letter S on the obverse which is not inclined, type 1, var 1 has this inclined letter and a Carolus monogram (2).