Description
Stephen (1135-54), Penny, Nottingham mint, moneyer Swein, Cross Moline type with defaced obverse die, crowned and diademed bust right, holding sceptre in right hand, defaced by small cross with pellet in one angle. Rev, cross moline, fleur in each angle, legend surrounds, +SPEIN : O[N] : [S]NOT+, 1.12g (S.1284; N.925/3; Mack : 149).
An excellent example of the defaced obverse die type for Nottingham; legible legends on obverse and reverse for type. Kings portrait still visible and the cross with pellet motif definitive. A good very fine for type, with a fully centred striking, pronounced cabinet toning. Extremely rare, well preserved.
Ex Baldwin’s Basement.
Coins Struck from Erased dies – late 1130’s – 1145. Some marks which disfigured and interfered with the dies were perhaps cancellation marks, however the demand of the Civil war meant the re-usage of dies would have been a regular occurrence. Other defacements in the coinage were, or may well have been political statements.
An extremely rare type within the Stephen series, a textbook example of the Nottingham defaced obverse die type, under the broader umbrella of ‘Local and Irregular Issues of the Civil War.’
R.P Mack in his article ‘Stephen and the Anarchy 1135-54’ :British Numismatic Journal volume xxxv, 1966, pp 38-112 presents comprehensive plates for the type with weights. It appears this coin could be considered a heavier example, weighing in at 1.12 grams (17.28 grains) only a few other examples are near this weight range in his detailed listings under reference E :149 – from the Nottingham and Sheldon finds. Many of these types have completely or partially obliterated obverse legends, especially in the Sheldon finds.
Further reading,
Boon, G. C – ‘Coins of the Anarchy 1135-54’ 1988. National Museum of Wales in association with A.H. Baldwin & Sons.
