The names of the counts are scarcely known until the ninth century, when they start to take on a larger role because of their strategic importance in the defence against Viking raids.
Towards the end of the tenth century, the counts of Bordeaux began minting money in their own name.
There was an active mint at Bordeaux in Merovingian times, and a series of 19 moneyers are known by name between 580 and about 710.
After that there is another hiatus until minting was resumed in the king's name under Louis IV (936–54) and Lothair (954–86).
Subsequently obols are known bearing the names of William, Bernard, Sancho and Odo.