Deniers minted in Lombardy during the rule of the Frankish emperor Louis the Pious (814-840) were very uniform. The minting authority was always indicated on the obverse, while the reverse gave the name of the mint, in this case Mediolanum for Milan. Along with Pavia and Treviso, Milan was one the most important mints in northern Italy.
Unlike his father Charlemagne, Louis did not have his monogram put on his coins. Instead he proudly presented the Christian cross, for Louis the Pious regarded it as his most important task to 'Christianize' the Frankish Empire.