Date: c. 1015-1035

Hiberno-Norse Phase II, Class B silver penny of Sihtric, King of Dublin (Moneyer: Faeremin)

Description:

An Hiberno-Norse. Phase II Penny in the name of Sihtric, King of Dublin. Dublin mint signature, moneyer: Færemin.

• Weight: 1.32 g
• References:
  • Dolley A3/c; Roth, pl. iii, 52
  • SCBI BM 70ff; SCBI Ulster 96; Lane 35ff; S 6125; DF 23
• Well struck, with an excellent portrait showing an unusual variety of extra symbols
• Slightly crimped, otherwise good very fine (VF)
• Rare

Obverse:

• Draped bust left with one pellet before, wishbone ornament on neck
• Cross pommée behind neck
• Slightly blundered legend:
  • + ZHITR · C RE + DY
    • (translates as “Sihtric, King of Dublin”)

Reverse:

• Long voided cross, with triple crescent ends and pellet in each angle
• Blundered legend:
  • + FER EIII MΘ  DNE
    • (translates as Moneyer = “Faeremin of Dublin”)

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Hiberno-Norse
  • Phase 2
• Hammered

Additional Information:

During Phase II (c. 1018 to 1035) the coinage became lighter, possibly reflecting the declining fortunes of the Kingdom of Dublin.

• While early Phase I coins weighed about 1.5 grammes
  • By Phase II the average weight of the coinage is reduced to 1.2 grammes

The inscriptions (legends) on Phase II coins are, typically, ‘blundered’

• This is a numismatic term for mis-spelt, or a jumble of letters
  • bits of the name “Sihtric” and “Dyflin” are still often recognizable.
• On the obverse of Phase II coins, a J-shaped symbol – interpreted as an inverted bishop’s crozier – sometimes appears behind the bust.
• Small pellets, typically, appear in the angles of the long cross on the reverse.

Other Coins in this Series:

• The Old Currency Exchange: Checklist (Hiberno-Norse)

Further Reading:

• O’Brien Coin Guide: Anglo-Saxon Coins & Their Links to Ireland
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Who Introduced Anglo-Saxon Coins to Ireland and why ?
• O’Brien Coin Guide: Introduction to the Hiberno-Norse Coinages of the Late 10th & Early 11th C