Richard I Penny ‘The Lionheart’ Silver Short Cross by Lefwine at Lincoln Mint 1189-1199

Description

Header: Richard I ‘The Lionheart,’ Silver Voided Short Cross Penny, Lefwine, Lincoln Mint

Denomination: Silver penny

Period: Plantagenets

Date: 1189-1199

Origin: Lincoln mint, Lefwine moneyer, Class 2

Condition: Fine+, reasonable portrait for type, slightly off-centre and somewhat weakly struck

Obverse: Crowned facing bust of Richard. holding sceptre in right hand. legend in name of his father +hENRICV[S RE]X

Reverse: +LEFWINE.ON.NIC voided short cross with four pellets in each angle

Size and Weight: 19mm, 1.14g

References: Spink 1346, North 965

Features and Provenance: .

All Richard’s coins were issued in his father’s name, the only coins bearing his own name were produced in Ireland and France.

Although Richard is one of England’s most famous kings, it is strange that he should have only ever spent six months in the country and probably spoke little English. He was born in England in 1157, the second surviving son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He spent most of his youth with her in France were he excelled in the art of war. He was betrothed at the age of nine to a French princess, Alais, but never married her. Henry had her imprisoned for twenty five years and treated her as his own mistress. Richard had little time for women and his own marriage to Berengaria of Navarre was strategic; he spent little time with her and they had no children. He is believed to have produced one child illegitimately, but the mother is unknown.

Richard actually tried to depose his father on no less than two occasions, so it is unsurprising that Henry II was not conducive to making Richard his heir apparent. He did so, however, just two days before his death. Richard gained the Angevin Empire but was more interested in fighting in the Crusades. The ‘Crusader King.’ ‘the Lionhearted,’ ‘Coeur de Lion’ and ‘Richard Oc-e-Non’ (yes and no) as he was also known, eventually reached a truce during the Third Crusade instead of gaining Jerusalem. He then travelled home again, but was captured and held to ransom. His mother tried to raise funds to pay, but had to turn to the people of the Angevin Empire to free him, promoting him as ‘Good King Richard’ although she had to pawn the crown jewels to finally achieve this. He died in 1199 from an arrow wound in the shoulder.

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