Harold I Penny, Fleur de lis type, York Mint, Moneyer Witherin, retrograde obv.

Harold I (1035-40), silver Penny, fleur de lis type (c.1038-40), with retrograde obverse, York Mint, moneyer Witherine, diademed bust right with sceptre, legend and toothed border surrounding, commencing upper left reading in mirror image left, +HAR OLD. REX, rev. pellet at centre of voided long cross, pelleted fleur de lis in each angle, legend and toothed border surrounding, +PI ÐEP INE O EO, weight 1.01g (SCBI Copenhagen 18:130; BMC type Va 31; Parsons 1136; N.806; S.1164). Toned with rim bruise, a bold very fine and extremely rare with the retrograde obverse.

The abbreviated legends translate as on the obverse "King Harold" and on reverse the moneyer "Witherine of York."

H. Alexander Parsons writing in the British Numismatic Journal, Volume 15, 1919 in his article on Harold I lists all the mint readings known to him at that time. 1,136 different coins for the reign of which 98 are from York Mint. Of this total 37 are of the jewel cross type and 61 are fleur de lis type. Of this total of 61 only 4 are retrograde and only two are of this moneyer. For decades the only example in private hands was the alternative mint reading for this moneyer where there is a letter N with O to make ON before EO, that coin was the ex Martin 48, Murchison 320, Boyne 1, Montagu 92, Murdoch 146 and Lockett 778 piece and was still the only one available when sold in 1955. This coin is of the other reading with only O for ON and may also be the only one of that available. North records up to 21 moneyers working in this reign across all three types.

Harold Harefoot was apparently the younger of two sons Canute had with Aelfgifu, before marrying the Emma the widow of Aethlered II and having Harthacanute by her. His older brother Swein was sent to rule Norway until being expelled in 1034 and pre-deceased his Father in Denmark at the end of the year. On Canute's death the men of Mercia and Northumbria therefore chose Harold as the next ruler. Meanwhile Queen Emma in Winchester with the King's bodyguard and treasure supported her son Harthacanute who was still in Denmark, as did Godwin of Wessex, and claims of illegitimacy towards Harold became rife. War was avoided by Harthacanute's absence, but did not bode well for his cause, his half-brother Alfred later attempting to visit his mother at Winchester, being treacherously captured at Guildford by Godwin and handed over to Harold, who had him fatally blinded and sent to perish in Ely. Wessex accepted Harold as King by 1037 and Emma fled to Normandy, and though watchful of invasion by Harthacanute nothing ever came, remaining peaceful until his death in his early twenties on 17th March 1040. He was nicknamed "Harefoot" on account of his sporting ability and was buried in Westminster. On arrival Harthacanute had him dug up and thrown in a marsh, but secretive supporters recovered his body and had him interred elsewhere in London.

The City of York at the junction of the River Foss and River Ouse, about 190 miles north west of London has been an archbishopric since 753 with some gold Thrymsa coins being produced. It was the early minting place of coins of the Kings of Northumbria in both copper and silver as well as the Archbishops of York. The mint name first appears on some of the occupational Viking coinages making the city their capital from 867. In 919 the city passed to the Hiberno-Norse Kings of Dublin and back to the English in 927 when taken from Guthfrith. Between 939 and 943 the Vikings were back in town and again from 947-954 but otherwise remained under English rule with the Norman castle even holding out to a Saxon/Danish occupation in 1069 being relieved by William I who built a second castle on the right bank of the Ouse, the City having been burnt. As soon as William departed the Vikings returned but upon William's return they fled back to their ships and the Normans harried Yorkshire. Later minting activity occurs from the reign of Aethelstan onward, incorporating Viking Kings of York coinage, through a long period right through to King Edward VI, as well as a Civil War Mint for King Charles I and a branch mint for the milled recoinage of William III.

Provenance:

Purchased from A. H. Baldwin and Son Ltd, March 2020.

Ex Collection of an English Doctor part II, Sovereign Rarities fixed price list online May 2022.