Lot 495
Stephen (1135-54), Silver Penny, Watford type (c.1136-45), Chichester Mint, Moneyer Godwine. Crowned bust with sceptre right, legend commences left with inner and outer beaded border surrounding, +STIEFNE R-, rev. cross moline, lis in each angle, legend with inner outer beaded border surrounding, +GOD---E: ON: CICE:, weight 1.41g (BMC type I, 26; N.873; S.1278). Toned with a nice clear portrait, only a slight irregularity to shape and a little weak in parts of legend, better than usually encountered, good very fine. Value $1,500 - UP
The reign of Stephen is perhaps one of the most interesting numismatically as England descends towards Civil War in the latter part of the reign, with an increasing volume in types of coinage, with many poorly struck as allegiances to the King, the Empress or the various noblemen wax and wane. The first so-called Watford type is the most abundant, due to the fact that a major hoard of this type turned up in the Watford area in Victorian times, rather than being named after something describing the design, and a well struck piece is hard to find. The Chichester Mint in Sussex remained a smaller mint according to North with perhaps three moneyers active, though Godwine is the only one currently recorded for Stephen; The lion’s share of mint activity was in London and Norwich which each had up to 24 moneyers, followed by Lincoln with up to twelve and in joint third with up to ten at Ipswich and York.
The obverse Latin legend translates as "Stephen King" and the reverse as "Godwine of Chichester.".
Ex Pimprez Hoard, discovered 2002 near Beauvais France, 569 coins and 12 ingots, one of 72 coins of Stephen. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, December 2004, item HS1885.
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| Realized $1,500 |
