Henry III – Penny, Continental Imitation, Class 5c

WEH 11029

Henry III. 1216–1272. Penny. Continental imitation of the Henry III Long Cross class 5c penny. HENRICVS REX III, crowned bust facing with sceptre in right hand. Reverse: HIE / O[?]D / IIDI / VIIE, long cross voided with three pellets in each angle. Sleaford, Lincolnshire. 18 mm.

A contemporary continental imitation of a class 5c long cross penny of Henry III. The coin is quite a close copy of the true type, except for its completely blundered reverse legend, which reads HIE O[?]D IIDI VIIE. (Both letters rendered here as D are actually reversed E's on the coin.) The coin was probably struck contemporaneously, or very nearly so, with the issue of the English class 5c penny from which it was copied. The high reputation of the English coinage at this time made it a target for such imitation. The reverse of the coin (and probably the obverse) was struck from the same die as the North example cited in References below. The place of striking is uncertain, possibly a mint in Frisia or Westphalia. References J J North, Some Imitations and Forgeries of the English and Irish Long Cross Pence of Henry III, BNJ 65, 1995, No. 81 Comments The bracketed letter [?] of the reverse legend is uncertain, but has been read as a Lombardic H in the J J North paper cited above. The 'tail', however, differs markedly from that of the other (clearer) H in the legend.

£125.00