CAROLINGIANS. Louis 'le Pieux' (the Pious), as Emperor Louis I, 814-840. Denier (Silver, 20 mm, 1.69 g, 6 h), Metallum (Melle). Class I, 814-819. HLVDOVVICVS IMP AVG Laureate, Draped and Cuirassed bust of Louis I to right, seen from behind. Rev. 的 METALLVM around implementations of coin minting: pair of this, flanked on one side by mallet. Coupland, Money 3. Depeyrot 607. MEC 1, 758. M&G 396. Very rare. An attractive example of this important issue with a highly interesting reverse. Light marks and minor edge scuffs, otherwise, very fine. Ex Leu 18, 2 June 2025, 1005. The highly interesting reverse of this important early Carolingian portrait issue shows the coining implications with which coins were produced: an obverse and a reverse die, and two mallets. As such, the type is reminiscent of the Roman Republican denarius of T. Carisius from 46 BC (Crawford 464/2), depicting the dies, a mallet, and tongs on the reverse. This lot can be shipped to a US address.