Stephen 1135-1154AD Silver Penny Provincial style Uncertain mint

Stephen 1135-1154AD Silver Penny, Provincial style, Uncertain mint.

20mm, 1.37g, S1278 var. Small crack to inner circle above portrait but stable.

A wonderfully crude portrait, clearly provincial and currently unattributed to a mint town. Further research required, mint attribution could be possible by linking style to a coin with clearer reverse legends.

Stephen’s uncle, Henry I, had intended the throne of England to go to his daughter Matilda, but upon his death, Stephen had against oath, seized the throne of England. In 1139, Matilda, an Angevin by second marriage, established a base at Bristol, to contest her rights, supported by her half-brother, Robert, Earl of Gloucester and other influential noblemen. The result was a turbulent period of civil war, often referred to as The Anarchy, with no final settlement until 1353.

Its impact on the coinage is profound, with mints striking regular issues and/or irregular issues, and some mints striking irregular coins including Angevin issues. In addition, some barons were given, or assumed rights, to strike their own coinage. Coins of this period are often poorly struck and of low weight, therefore well struck examples are much sought after.

For more information about Stephen and the Norman period click here: Background History of the Normans – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins

This coin comes with old tickets where Warwick is suggested as the mint but stylistically this example does not match any of the known coins for this mint.