Richard I ‘Lionheart’ AD 1189-1199 Silver Short Cross Penny Canterbury Class 3

Richard I ‘Lionheart’ AD 1189-1199 Silver Short Cross Penny

Facing bust/Short Cross

Class 3. Large or small face, normally 7 pearls to crown, chin and side whiskers made up of small curls

Canterbury / Reinwald

S1347, 19mm, 1.30g

Shortly before Henry II died Richard had rebelled and defeated Henry at the Battle of Anjou. As Henry’s third son Richard had not expected to become king but as both his older brothers had died Richard was to be crowned in Westminster Abbey. Known primarily as a warrior king Richard was to leave England to join the Crusades in the Holy Land. Richard was to occupy both Sicily and Cyprus before joining in the siege at Acre in AD 1191. He was rarely to return to England however on his way back in AD 1192 Richard was to be shipwrecked and captured whilst taking an overland route near Vienna. Held to ransom by the Holy Roman Emperor Richard was eventually to be freed when the ransom was paid.
Whilst Richard had been absent his younger brother John had rebelled. It is during this period that the legend of Robin Hood, a supporter of Richard, and the Sherrif of Nottingham, a supporter of John was born. When Richard returned to England he forgave John and named him as his successor. He also started to reclaim his lost lands in Normandy and made war on the French. Whilst campaigning in Limousin in March 1199 Richard was struck by a bolt from a crossbow. The wound proved fatal and Richard died shortly afterwards.
Whilst there are no English coins bearing Richard’s name there were a number of Anglo Gallic coins issued in his name.