Hiberno-Norse. temp. Murchad mac Diarmata. 1052-1070. AR Penny (18mm, 0.50 g, 9h). Phase IV coinage, Facing bust/Long Cross type. Uncertain mint signature and moneyer. Struck circa 1055/60-1065/70. IIIIIIIIIII•III[...] II•I[...]IIII, schematized facing bearded head: pellet-in-annulet eyes, annulet cheeks, curvilinear mouth and mustache with one pellet at end, and linear beard; annulet above / IIIIII III, voided long cross, with triple crescent ends; in first and fourth angles, retrograde S with triple pellets at each end, “hand” symbol in second, and annulet-with-tail symbol in third. Blackburn 4, –; O’S 46 var. (symbol in third quarter); SCBI 8 (BM), –; cf. SCBI 32 (Belfast), 309; SCBI 22 (Copenhagen), 235; D&F 27; SCBC 6176. VF, toned, area of weak strike. Very rare.

Irish Coin Daily: Hiberno-Norse Silver Penny, Phase IV (’scratched die’) coinage, Facing Bust type

Date: c. 1055/60-1065/7 Description: Hiberno-Norse. temp. Murchad mac Diarmata. 1052-1070. Silver Penny (18mm, 0.50 g, 9h). Phase IV coinage, Facing bust/Long Cross type, thought to have been imitative of contemporary English coins of Edward the Confessor. Uncertain mint signature and moneyer. Struck circa 1055/60-1065/70. Blackburn 4, –; O’S 46 var. (symbol in third quarter); SCBI 8 (BM), –;…