Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 14005 - Ancient, British and Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 552

Henry I (1100-35), Penny, 1.17g, annulets type (BMC 1), Malmesbury, Seword, crowned facing bust, annulet each side of bust, rev. +seþord on mlm, cross fleury, arms extending from a central annulet, three pellets on a pile in each angle (N.857; S.1263), small edge split at seven o'clock, nearly very fine, extremely rare, the only known example of this type for Malmesbury and the only certain example of Malmesbury for Henry I

provenance:
Found near Brimsfield, Gloucestershire, c.2000
Recorded with the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, EMC 2014.XXXX

A mint is first known to have operated at Malmesbury for the reform coinage of Eadgar and a mint continued to operate with a regular but small output until the Norman Conquest. After 1066 its operation seems to become more sporadic with examples known mainly for the PAXS issue of William I and for the first three types of William II. The moneyer Seword, first appears for the last of these. North noted this as the last issue of this mint.

Since North was published a single coin of Henry I type IV (annulets and piles) has been attributed to this mint, however there is some doubt about this with it possibly being an issue for Maldon.

There can be no doubt about the coin in this lot being from Malmesbury as the mint singature mlm is a form attributed to Malmesbury without doubt and the moneyer Seword is already recorded for this mint a few years earlier than this new coin.

As such this coin is the only definite example of this mint for Henry I and one of only a very few from after 1066.


Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£3,800