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Harold II Penny, Wilton Mint, Centwine, rare moneyer
Harold II (6th Jan-14th Oct 1066), silver Penny, Wilton Mint, Moneyer Centwine, crowned bust left with sceptre, legend and beaded outer circle surrounding, legend commences at right, +HAROLD REX ANGL rev. PAX between beaded lines horizontal at centre, beaded circles and legend surrounding, legend commences at right, +CENTPINE ON PILTI, weight 1.27g (N.836; S.1186). Weakly struck in one quarter of coin, otherwise toned, very fine, Centwine seems to be one of the rarest names at Wilton.
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 a type coin of the reign demand for King Harold remains strong, especially since 2016 marked the 950th anniversary 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.
The legends translate as "Harold King of the English" on the obverse and "Centwine of Wilton" on the reverse with "Peace" across the centre.