Milan

Charles III the Fat, King of Italy 879-887

Grierson/Blackburn 1012 var,  Choice Very Fine

Obverse depicts a cross with balls in the quarters. The reverse shows a temple. Possibly struck at Milan; wonderfully detailed with rich patina.

Charles III, (the Fat), was often incapacitated by illness, and is believed to have had epilepsy. Additionally, he was fat enough to be carried around by litter bearers much of the time. He was fortunate enough to have reacquired much of the territory his family had divided up, including East and West Francia, the Italian territories, Bavaria, and Saxony. He was crowned Emperor in 881. No one would control this much of Europe again until Napoleon.