Richard I Penny class IVb, Canterbury Mint Goldwine, signed London in error

Richard I (1189-99), silver short cross Penny, class IVb (c.1200-1204), in the name of his Father, Canterbury Mint, moneyer Goldwine, facing crowned bust with sceptre outside inner linear circle, legend commences upper left, hENRICVS R EX, rev. short voided cross pommée, cross pommée in each angle, beaded circles and legend surrounding, +GOLDWINE. ON. L, weight 1.42g (Mass 1053; N.968/2; S.1348C). Toned though weakly struck, with error mint reading as L for C, very unusual and rare.

All of the coins dating to the reign of Richard I by class, are depicted in the name of his Father King Henry II as are those of King John who succeeds him. The legend therefore reads "Henry King" on the obverse and "Goldwine of London" on the reverse which is erroneous in that Goldwine if traditionally of Canterbury and the obverse die links in with his Canterbury produced coins and those of other moneyers based there, namely Reinaud Samuel and Simon - for further reading see British Numismatic Journal 1989, article by Martin Allen, "The Provision and Use of Short Cross Class V Dies" page 47 f/n 13.

The third son of King Henry II, Richard was born on 8^thSeptember 1157 and with his elder brothers pre-deceasing him, and after a final rebellion against his Father in 1189, shortly after which the King died probably from complications of an ulcer, Richard inherited the Angevin Empire. He was also Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus and Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine and Nantes, and additionally at varied times Overlord of Brittany. He became known as Richard Couer De Lion, in English "Richard the Lionheart" due to his great reputation as a military leader having commanded his own army as young as age 16. He was successful in putting down rebellions in parts of his own kingdoms and was an important Christian Commander in the Third Crusade leading the campaign after Philip II of France had departed. He achieved considerable victories against Muslim counterpart Saladin, finalised a peace treaty by 2^ndSeptember 1192 and ended the campaign without retaking Jerusalem, perhaps partly due to falling ill from arnaldia leaving on 9^thOctober 1192 intending to return to England.

Richard lived most of his adult life when home in the Duchy of Aquitaine where his coinage actually carries his name. He may have spent as little as six months actually in England in the decade long reign, and this goes some way toward explaining why his English coinage continues in the name of his Father, and that perhaps he saw the revenues generated by England as something merely to fund and support his armies and military campaigns which were numerous.

Richard was captured shortly before Christmas 1192 near Vienna by Leopold of Austria having never made it back to England after being shipwrecked, and was kept prisoner at Durnstein Castle which contravened public law leading to Leopold's excommunication by Pope Celestine III. Subsequently on 28^thMarch 1193 Richard was handed over to Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI at Speyer who imprisoned him in Trifels Castle as he felt aggrieved by lack of prior Plantagenet support. Pope Celestine hesitated in excommunicating H.R.E. Henry VI and Richard ended up being kept in heavy chains whilst a 150,000 mark ransom was demanded which was up to three times the annual income of the English Crown. Eventually enough money was raised and delivered to Germany and Richard was released on 4^thFebruary 1194.

In Richard's absence his brother John had revolted but was forgiven and named as heir in place of Richard's nephew Arthur, and at Winchester on 11^thMarch 1194 King Richard was coronated for a second time to mark his release from captivity. He then began a reconquest of Normandy and concentrated a great deal of time, effort and resources over the next few years building one of the most expensive castles ever constructed 1196-98 Chateau Gaillard costing up to £20,000 (total expenditure on castles in England at this time was £7,000) with fortifications a century ahead of their time. Richard won several victories in France at this period causing Philip of France to flee and the adoption of the motto "Dieu et mon Droit" - literally "God and my Right" still used by monarchy today. However, whilst Richard was suppressing a revolt at Limousin by Viscount Aimar V of Limoges he was hit by a crossbow bolt in the shoulder on 26^thMarch 1199 which turned gangrenous. Richard asked for the bowman to be brought to him, and it turned out to be a young boy (various names are chronicled for him) who claimed that Richard had previously killed his Father and two brothers. Richard chivalrously forgave the boy and set him free with 100 Shillings and then eventually succumbed to the gangrene on 6^thApril 1199.

Richard married Berengaria of Navarre on 12^thMay 1191 she having made the journey with Richard's mother Eleanor of Aquitaine to catch him up on the advent of his Third Crusade culminating in her having to be rescued by Richard after running aground on a ship off Cyprus. Richard had to capture the island from Isaac Comnenus the ruler of Cyprus from 1184-91. They subsequently married and she was coronated as Queen of England on the same day by the Archbishop of Bordeaux at the Chapel of St George in Limassol. Berengaria never set foot in England whilst Richard was King though she may have visited after his death and she lived on childless until 23^rdDecember 1230 and was said she was owed £4,000 by King John on his death in 1216 in pensions. Richard had one illegitimate son, Philip of Cognac (c.1180 - after 1201) from an unidentified mother. Richard's heart was buried at Rouen Cathedral, his entrails at Chalus where he died and the rest of his body at Fontevraud Abbey in Anjou.

Provenance:

Ex Jim Sazama Collection, Part VIII, Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 111, 12^th June 2013, lot 918 part.

A Collection of Short Cross Pennies, the Property of a Gentleman, Part I, Noonans, auction 256, 15^th June 2022, lot 34.