Date: 1015×36

Place of Production: Le Mans

Description: A silver penny of Count Herbert I (1015-1036) from the County of Maine, France. Before Count Herbert’s time, coins from Maine produced by the counts were plain, carrying only the phrase ‘Gratia Dei rex’, (‘by the Grace of God’), but Herbert departed from this tradition and included his name and a new phrase: Signum Dei Vivi (‘symbol of the living God’)

Obverse inscription:Monogram of Herbert (EBERTVS); COMES CENOMANS
Reverse inscription: +SIGNVM DEI VIVI; Alpha and Omega

Size: 20.32 mm diameter.

Held at: Portable Antiquities Scheme

Accession Number: BERK-A9B066

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