Harold II Penny, no sceptre obverse, PAX type, Exeter mint, moneyer Lifinc

Harold II (6^thJan-14^thOct 1066),silver Penny, no sceptre variety, Exeter Mint, Moneyer Lifinc, crowned bust left without sceptre, legend and beaded outer circle surrounding, legend commences at top, +HAROLD REX ANGL, rev. PAX between beaded lines horizontal at centre, beaded circles and legend surrounding, legend commences at top +LIFINC ON EXECRSTREI, weight 1.32g (BMC type 1a; SCBI Mack 20:1343 this coin; N.836; S.1187).Toned, a little darkly in the legends, some light surface marks, very fine and extremely rare without the sceptre.

The legends translate as "Harold King of the English" on the obverse and "Lifinc of Exeter" on the reverse with "Peace" across the centre.

The mint name is exceptionally long with this coin and it has a longer provenance than most.

The reign of King Harold II was shorter than that of the modern British King Edward VIII who famously abdicated and produced no coins for British currency. The coinage of Harold II all have the same "Peace" type reverse and a head and neck bust on the obverse, which can sometimes face right or have the sceptre absent as with this rare example offered herewith. As a type coin of the reign demand for King Harold remains strong, especially since 2016 marked the 950^thanniversary of the Battle of Hastings, celebrated by the Royal Mint with the release of a Fifty Pence coin depicting Harold with the arrow in his eye as seen on the Bayeux Tapestry.

Exeter in Devon is situated on the River Exe and is first mentioned in the "Burghal Hidage" with the Danes retreating into the town in 875 and leaving two years later. Exeter was attached in 892 by a Northumbrian army and captured by the Britons in c.925. The town was betrayed by the Reeve to the Vikings in c.1003,it was only a few years later that this coin would have been minted.

Provenance:

Ex Spink and Son Ltd, purchased 1959.

Ex Commander R. P. Mack, S.C.B.I. 20:1343.

Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, May 1985, item 3059.

Ex Dr Irving Schneider Collection, David Guest / N.A.C., 20^th May 2025, lot 3134.