Description
Denomination: Silver cut half-penny (halved by the mint to supply smaller denominations)
Period: Norman
Date: 1066-1087
Origin: Probably Canterbury mint. The moneyer. probably Brihtwold. is associated with this mint. this attribution is therefore feasible.
Condition: VF. toned but uneven. small edge flan crack
Obverse: Facing bust crowned and diademed. PILELM [REX]
Reverse: Cross pattee; in each angle an annulet containing one letter for the word PAXS (crown type 1). [+BRI]HTPOLD O[N CNT]
Size and Weight: 20mm. 0.63g
References: N848. Spink 1257
Features and Provenance: Ex Lockdales sale. The use of the PAX coins into the reign of William II has still to be substantiated so this coin will remain attributed to his father.
A descendant of the Viking ruler Rollo. William I was born in about 1028 to Robert I. Duke of Normandy and his mistress. Herleva. leading to one of his epithets ‘the bastard’. The young Duke’s power gradually grew and by 1062 his territories in France had greatly expanded. William claimed that he had been promised the English throne by the heirless Edward the Confessor but. upon Edward’s death. the throne passed to Earl Harold Godwinson. With the support of the Pope. William invaded England and successfully won the throne in 1066. gaining him his other epithet ‘the conqueror’. There was natural unrest and revolts broke out across the country. William quelled these by force. most infamously with the scorched earth policy of the ‘harrying of the North’ between 1069 to70. William’s legacy also includes the commissioning of the Domesday Book in 1086 and the construction of castles and keeps. most famously the White Tower of the Tower of London. He spent little time in England and never mastered the language. He died of a riding injury in Rouen in 1087.
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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