Ireland, John (as Lord) Halfpenny, Moon Type, Waterford, Gefrei, c1190-1199

£250.00

Product Code:RNC112

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Description

Denomination: Silver halfpenny

Period: Plantagenets (but as Lord of Ireland from 1172)

Date: 1190-1199. second coinage. class 1d

Origin: Waterford mint

Condition: Fine+ weak strike in parts

Obverse: Facing diademed moon-like head. legend around reading IOHANNES DOM or similar

Reverse: Voided cross potent. annulets in angles. legend around. GEFRE ON [-]

Size and Weight: 15mm. 0.69g

References: S620

Features and Provenance: In 1172. the young Prince John was given the Lordship of Ireland and visited in 1185. Halfpennies were struck to commemorate his visit and later pennies were struck also. These coins are the only ones to bear his name. his English coins still had that of his father. Henricus. and as such those bearing his name are rarities. 

A mere paragraph can’t do justice to this larger than life king of England. his coinage doesn’t reflect this either. 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 and John offered to pay the kidnappers to keep him imprisoned and away from England for as long as possible! Richard was only released when his mother pawned the crown jewels to pay the ransom! John is best known for unsettling his barons with his unpopular judicial reforms. spitefulness and tax demands; resulting in the Magna Carta that he reluctantly signed. John’s taxes were to raise funds for fruitless campaigns in France to gain back his lands. 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 and general. albeit with psychopathic tendencies.

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Additional information

Weight50 g

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