Date: c. 995-1015

Description:

An Hiberno-Norse Phase I, Class D (Small Cross) Silver Penny. Chester mint, moneyer: Leofwine.

• Diameter: 18 mm
• Weight: 0.69 g
• References:
  • SCBI 32 (Belfast), 32 var. (legends); O’S -; D&F 19; SCBC 6118
• Well-struck + well centred on a neat round flan, some die rust on obverse and a little porosity showing
  • Nine peck marks on reverse, thus used in more than just a few transactions
• Good VF (gVF)
• Very rare

Obverse:

• Diademed and draped bust left
• Slightly blundered legend:
  • + SIHTRC RE+ DУFLND MΘ
    • (translates as “Sihtric, King of Dublin”)

Reverse:

• Small cross pattée
• Unusually clear legend:
  • + LEΘFPINE ΘN LEIC
    • (translates as Moneyer = “Leofwine of Chester”)

Country:

• Ireland

Category:

• Hiberno-Norse
  • Phase 1
    • Class D (Small Cross Issue)
• Hammered

Additional Information:

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

• 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