Description
Denomination: Silver denier
Period: Plantagenets
Date: As Duke of Aquitaine 1168-1185 and as King of England 1189-1199
Origin: France. Aquitaine mint
Condition: F
Obverse: +RICA RDVS in three lines. W (omega)below
Reverse: +AQVITANIE. legend around cross within inner circle
Size and Weight: 17mm. 0.83g
References: Withers & Ford. Anglo-Gallic Coins page 29
Features and Provenance: 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. All Richard’s English coins were issued in his father’s name, the only coins bearing his name were produced in Ireland and France and are thus highly sought after.
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 hadAlais imprisoned for twenty five years and treated her as his own mistress. Richard had little time for women and his own eventual 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, after losing in battle to Richard. He gained the Angevin Empire but was more interested in fighting in the Crusades. The ‘Crusader King,’ ‘the Lionheart,’ ‘Coeur de Lion’ and ‘Richard Oc-e-Non’ (yes and no) as he was also known, are his epithets.
The Third Crusade ended in a truce rather than the planned retaking of Jerusalem, and Richard opted to return home, but was captured and held to ransom. His mother raised funds to pay the ransom, but had to rely upon the people of the Angevin Empire to attain the target. He was promoted as ‘Good King Richard’ although the crown jewels had to to be pawned to finally achieve his liberty. For all his fame, sadly, his epithets appear to outnumber his actual achievements. 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
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