He was tall, with a round head, a friendly face and a bit of a belly – this is how the scholar Einhard described the Frankish King Charles I, who later was to be referred to as Charlemagne. Einhard is more or less the only contemporary witness who left us with a historical work providing detailed insight about the most important Carolingian ruler.
But regarding Charlemagne’s appearance, a much better historical source has come down to us: extremely rare denarii – one can expect there to be about 35 pieces – featuring the authentic image of Charlemagne, at least as authentic as a medieval portrait can be.
The Carolingian Coinage System
Charlemagne was not the one who set up the Carolingian coinage system – it was his father Pepin the Short. He laid down that the privilege of coining money be monopolised by the king and he commissioned the issuance of a silver pfennig, of which 264 pieces were
