Stephen & The Civil War Silver Cut Halfpenny 1135-1154AD York Series Flag type

Stephen & The Civil War Silver Cut Halfpenny 1135-1154AD York Series Flag type

10x20mm, 0.57g, SCBI 1313

Extremely rare, high grade and good metal. Provenance will be provided

Dr Martin Allen has recently published a paper in the Numismatic Chronicle, Volume 176, 2016 titled The York Local Coinage of the Reign of Stephen (1135-54) where the flag types are listed as phase 3. Dr Allen lists 36 examples of the flag type across 21 different die varieties, and of this total ten are institutionalised.

The symbolism of the flag is that it is meant to represent the Battle of the Standard sometimes called the Battle of Northallerton, on the 22nd August 1138, when the English forces repelled a Scottish army at Cowton Moor near Northallerton.

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.