Denier

After the 10th century the counts of Barcelona granted the bishops of Osona the right to mint money and to a third of the profits. These mintages adopted designs of a religious nature, which often had great artistic quality. The issue with probably the most beautiful iconographical composition of its day is the so-called coin of the oxen, made during the second half of the 11th century. On the obverse the busts of Saints Peter and Paul appear, facing each other, holding a cross, and surrounding them is the legend S. PETRVS S. PAVLVS. The reverse has the inscription AVSONA and a man who, dressed in a short tunic and a cloak, is holding a stick in his hand and driving a pair of oxen. The originality and artistic quality of this design caused a great impact in its day, as some contemporary documents mention.