Hiberno-Norse. Circa 1055/60-1065. AR Penny (17mm, 1.06 g, 3h). Phase IV (’scratched die’) coinage, Long Cross type. Uncertain mint signature and moneyer. + IIII+IRIIONIIIOIIIO, draped bust left; numerous pellets around / IMI IIIL IIIIR IIIM, voided long cross, with triple crescent ends; two pellets in first quarter, ‘hand’ symbol in second, trefoil of pellets in third, X and two pellets in fourth. O`S 22; SCBI 32 (Ulster), 310-5; D&F 25; SCBC 6134. VF, toned

Irish Coin Daily: Hiberno-Norse Silver Penny, Phase IV (’scratched die’) Class A, Type 1 coinage, Long Cross type

Date: c. 1055/60-1065 Description: Hiberno-Norse. Circa 1055/60-1065. AR Penny (17mm, 1.06 g, 3h). Phase IV (’scratched die’) Class A, Type 1 coinage, Long Cross type. Uncertain mint signature and moneyer. O`S 22; SCBI 32 (Ulster), 310-5; D&F 25; SCBC 6134. Very Fine (VF) Toned Obverse: + IIII + IRIIONIIIOIIIO, draped bust left; numerous pellets around…

Hiberno-Norse. Circa 1035-1055/60. AR Penny (17.5mm, 0.86 g, 7h). Phase III coinage, Long Cross type. Uncertain mint signature and moneyer. +IIITIDFILFIDI, draped bust left / +I- I·-I-I LII LII, voided long cross, with triple crescent ends; pellet in first quarter, ‘hand’ symbols in second and third quarters. O`S –; SCBI 22 (Copenhagen), 188 (same dies); D&F 24; SCBC 6132. Superb EF, toned, thin flan crack

Irish Coin Daily: Hiberno-Norse Silver Penny, Phase III

Date: c. 1035-1055/60 Description: Hiberno-Norse Silver Penny (17.5mm, 0.86 g, 7h). Phase III coinage, Long Cross type. Uncertain mint signature and moneyer. O`S –; SCBI 22 (Copenhagen), 188 (same dies); D&F 24; SCBC 6132. Extremely Fine (EF) Toned, thin flan crack. Obverse: +IIITIDFILFIDI, draped bust left Reverse: +I- I·-I-I LII LII, voided long cross, with triple crescent ends; pellet…

Ireland, Hiberno-Norse, Sihtric, penny, phase II (c.1015-1035), imitating long cross type of Aethelred II, + SIHTRC RE DIFLM, bust l., rev. + FÆ REMI NMO DYHI, long voided cross, pellet in each angle (S.6122; D&F.23), bottom edge very ragged, about very fine, scarce

Irish Coin Daily: Hiberno-Norse, Phase II Silver Penny, Sihtric of Dublin (moneyer: Faeremin)

Date: c. 1015-1035 Description: Hiberno-Norse, Sihtric, penny, phase II (c.1015-1035), imitating long cross type of Aethelred II,  (S.6122; D&F.23), bottom edge very ragged About very fine (aVF) Scarce Obverse: + SIHTRC RE DIFLM, bust l (translates as “Sihtric, King of Dublin”) Reverse: + FÆ REMI NMO DYHI, long voided cross, pellet in each angle (translates as Moneyer =…

IRELAND, Hiberno-Norse Kings, Sihtric Anlafsson, Phase One (c.995-1020), Silver Penny, Dublin mint, moneyer Eole, imitation of Aethelred II CRVX type, draped bust with sceptre left, linear circle and legend surrounding with outer beaded circle, retrograde S at start of legend, SHIR DIFLI DIFLIMEO, rev voided cross within linear circle, letters C R V X in each angle, legend surrounding, + EOLE O- DIFLIME:, 1.43g (SCBI 9:12; DF 1; S 6100).

Irish Coin Daily: Hiberno-Norse Silver Penny (Phase I, Class A – CRUX Type) in the name of Sihtric (EOLE)

Date: c. 996-1001 IRELAND, Hiberno-Norse Kings, Sihtric Anlafsson, Phase One (c.995-1020), Silver Penny, Dublin mint, moneyer Eole, imitation of Aethelred II CRVX type, draped bust with sceptre left, linear circle and legend surrounding with outer beaded circle, retrograde S at start of legend, 1.43g (SCBI 9:12; DF 1; S 6100). Legend a little blundered, otherwise good…

There are five main classes of coins in the Hiberno-Norse, Phase I series

O’Brien Rare Coin Guide: Hiberno-Norse, Phase 1 (AD 995–1018)

Introduction The first phase of the Hiberno-Norse coinages were imitations of contemporary Anglo-Saxon coins. They were produced in Dublin but closely copied the style of the silver pennies of Aethelred II of England and his successor Cnut. Since the English coin designs changed periodically, the dating and sequence of their Hiberno-Norse equivalents can be identified…

Aethelred II, Type 5 - Long Cross penny, Moneyer, Wulfmær of Castle Gotha

O’Brien Coin Guide: Anglo-Saxon Coins & Their Links To Ireland

It may come as a bit of a surprise to many that although Celtic coins have not (yet) been discovered in Ireland, there have been a lot of Roman and Anglo-Saxon coins found – especially the latter.  Conservative Irish historians have always said the Romans never got here but they rarely even mention the Anglo-Saxons…

Phase III, Penny, bust left, two pellets in front of face and behind head, rev. long voided cross with hand in two quarters, blundered legends

O’Brien Coin Guide: Introduction to the Hiberno-Norse Coinages of the Late 10th & Early 11th C

The first locally produced Irish coinage was the so-called Hiberno-Norse coinage which was first minted in Dublin in about 995-7 AD under the authority of Sihtric III (aka Sihtric Silkenbeard), the Norse King of Dublin.  There is no evidence for the native Irish producing coins before this, so it is likely that their economy was not coin-based.  The…

Hiberno-Manx silver penny, viking, Phase II imitation, isle of man, feremin,

O’Brien Coin Guide: The enigma of the Hiberno-Manx Coinages of the mid-11th Century

I am frequently asked the following questions and I openly admit to struggle to answer them adequately – the negative side of being a generalist dealer (constantly buying old attic finds and selling oddments from same), as opposed to being a specialist numismatic expert like so many of my much more knowledgeable customers. Who ordered…

How hammered coins were made in medieval times (a video blog)

One of the most asked questions relating to hammered coins is “how are they made?” Rather than go into a long speech about how it was done, perhaps it is best if I leave this to the experts …. Dave Greenhalgh (Cosmeston Medieval Village) & Barrie Cook (Curator of Medieval Coins, British Museum) Dave reckons…