Richard I (the Fearless) Silver Denier of Normandy

I thought it would be a good time for me to post something different than the art glass kick that I've been on lately. Here is a very nice silver denier of Richard I, Duke of Normandy. It was struck between 942 & 996 AD. Richard was the great-grandfather of William the Conqueror, and was the grandson of Rollo the Viking - the real one - not to be confused with the TV character on the History Channel series, who is sort of a composite. I collected it because I love the history, and Richard was also one of my 30th great-grandfathers. :-)

The coin comes from a large hoard find and is in nearly uncirculated condition. The obverse die shifted slightly as the coin was minted resulting in a slight double image. The inscription reads +RICARDUSI around a large central short cross pattée, with a pellet in each quadrant. The reverse is sharp and the inscription reads +ROTOMAGVS, around a central depiction of a stylized temple with a St. Andrew's cross and pellets in each quarter. It was minted in Rouen.