King John Penny Irish Silver Dublin Mint Moneyer Roberd 1207-1211

Description

Header: King John Penny, Dublin Mint, Roberd Moneyer, 1207-1211

Denomination: Silver penny, third REX coinage as King of Ireland

Period: Plantagenet

Date: 1207-1211

Origin: Dublin mint. Roberd moneyer

Condition: VF+, good round flan, lovely portrait, slightly off centre on reverse

Obverse: Crowned facing bust in triangle. sceptre in right hand, legend around  IOhA NNES REX

Reverse: Sun moon and three stars in triangle, ROBERD ON DIVE

Size and Weight: 18mm, 1.41g

References: Spink, Coins of Scotland and Ireland,  6228

Features and Provenance: No English coins were made in the name of John, only Irish coins, as our example, bearing the name, Iohn.

A mere paragraph can not do justice to this larger than life king of England and Ireland, his coinage doesn’t reflect this either. Most famous as the antagonist to Robin Hood, he came to the throne in 1199 after the death of his brother, Richard (the Lionheart). As a young man, he already had a reputation for treachery. For example, whilst Richard was away at the Crusades, John attempted to overthrow the appointed regent, presumably to take the throne, but failed. Then, whilst Richard was returning home and he was kidnapped, he offered to pay the kidnappers to keep him imprisoned and away from England for as long as possible! He was only released when his mother pawned the crown jewels to pay the ransom! In John’s defence his brother was little concerned about his lands, and those that he did care about were in France. Richard had used up enormous amounts of public money to fund his far-flung crusading. John is probably most known for unsettling his barons with his unpopular judicial reforms, spitefulness and demand for taxes; resulting in the Magna Carta, that he reluctantly signed. The taxes were to raise funds for fruitless campaigns in France to gain back his lands. Again in his defence, modern historians have removed the layers of hatred bestowed on him and see him to have been hard working and an able administrator. Winston Churchill said of him that “When the long tally is added, it will be seen that the British nation and the English-speaking world owe far more to the vices of John than to the labours of virtuous sovereigns.”

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of legend etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present, but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible