Henry I Penny, pellets in quatrefoil, Shaftesbury Mint, Saric, ex Carlyon-Britton

Henry I (1100-35), silver Penny, pellets in quatrefoil type XIV (c.1123-25), Shaftesbury Mint, moneyer Saric, facing bust of King with sceptre, sexfoil above shoulder, beaded circles and legend surrounding, hENRICVS R, rev.pellets within quatrefoil with tri-annulet terminals, lis in each angle, beaded circles and legend surrounding, +SARIC :ON: SAFTI., weight 1.34g (SCBI 27:2380 Lincolnshire; BMC XIV, 168; N.870; S.1275).Toned , well centred, a bold to good very fine with just a little weakness in parts of legends, extremely rare with a great provenance.

The legend translates as on obverse "Henry King" and on reverse "Saric of Shaftesbury."

North records up to four moneyers working at Shaftesbury for Henry I in types 10 to 14 only.

The fourth son of William the Conqueror, the "fine scholar" Henry Beauclerc as he was known acceded to the throne of England on the death of his childless elder brother William Rufus, who died after a hunting accident in the New Forest on 2^ndAugust 1100. Well educated Henry had been left landless when his Father died with the Kingdoms shared between the two eldest surviving brothers Robert and William, though he did purchase the county of Cotentin from his eldest brother Robert in western Normandy, but was later deposed from there in 1091, and subsequently, gradually rebuilt his power there with the help of elder brother William against Robert. Upon the death of William Rufus, and being present in the area at that time, he immediately became King promising to correct the less popular policies of his late brother. Henry married Matilda of Scotland with whom he had a son William Aethling and a daughter the Empress Matilda, as well as various other illegitimate children. His elder brother Robert invaded in 1101 disputing Henry's control, but this was settled by a pact recognising Henry as King of England. Henry later invaded Normandy in 1105 and 1106 defeating Robert eventually in the Battle of Tinchebray imprisoning his brother until his death on 3^rdFebruary 1134 in Cardiff Castle. Henry then controlled Normandy for which he was subsequently challenged by Robert's son William Clito who was supported by Fulk V of Anjou, Baldwin VII of Flanders and Louis VI of France, resulting in major rebellions within the Duchy from 1116-19. Eventually a peace settlement was agreed in 1120 after Henry's victory at the Battle of Bremule.

Henry was an effective leader who drew his nobles and barons close whilst using the government justice and taxation systems to the best effect boosting the Royal Exchequer, along with Normandy and its own independent system. He also encouraged ecclesiastical reform playing a major role in selecting senior clergy, though he did have a serious earlier dispute with Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury in 1101 eventually resolved through a compromise in 1105. Unfortunately, Henry's son and heir apparent William drowned in the White Ship sinking disaster of 1120 and Henry entered a second marriage in the hope of another son, but the union with Adeliza of Louvain remained childless. He therefore declared Matilda his heir and married her to Geoffrey of Anjou in 1128 but the relationship between them all became strained with fighting along the Anjou border. Henry subsequently died on 1^stDecember 1135 after a week of illness and despite his plan for succession it was Stephen of Blois his nephew that succeeded him which led to a Civil War.

Situated in Dorset nearly 25 miles north northwest of Dorchester on high ground, Shaftesbury is where Dunstan took the body of Edward the Martyr for interment after his death at Corfe Castle. Minting activity occurs from the reign of Aethelstan to King Stephen including a die link with the rare "BRYGIN" pieces.

Provenance:

Ex Philip William Poole Carlyon-Britton, second portion, Sotheby, 20^th November 1916, lot 1401 sold for 19 Shillings.

Ex Dr Raymond Theobald Cassal, Glendining, 3^rd December 1924, lot 133 sold for £2/12

Ex Richard Cyril Lockett, English part one, Glendining, 6-9^th June 1955, lot 1083 sold for £9

Ex F. Elmore Jones, Norman and Plantagenet, Glendining, 10^th April 1984, lot 1369.

This coin when it appeared for sale in Elmore Jones was attributed to Carlyon-Britton collection lot 1935 which is a group lot in the third portion of his vast collection and we assume the Glendining cataloguer stopped looking for the coin at that point. However looking at the second portion of the collection there is an example of this coin sold singly that better fits the description of this coin though not illustrated as the mint name is clear and the moneyer name only apparent as SAR before blanking out for two letters. Therefore we reattribute the earliest provenance as above.