William I Penny, PAXS type, Dorchester Mint, Moneyer Oter

William I (1066-87), silver PAXS Penny (1083-86), Dorchester Mint, Moneyer Oter, facing crowned bust with sceptre to right, crown type 3, legend and beaded circles surrounding both sides, +PILLELM REX, rev. cross pattee, each letter of PAXS in an annulet per angle, +OTER ON DORCEST, weight 1.40g (BMC VIII 631; N.850; S.1257). Toned, a little weak in legends, good portrait, a bold to good very fine, rare.

The legends translate as "William King of the English" on obverse and on the reverse "Ottar of Dorchester."

North records up to five moneyers working at Dorchester in this reign for types 4 to 8 inclusive.

The first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror born around 1028 was the son of Robert I of Normandy and Herleya. A descendant of Rollo, William became Duke of Normandy in 1035, he subsequently married Matilda of Flanders in the 1050s ensuring a powerful ally in that neighbouring region. After a protracted struggle and quashing rebellions, his hold over Normandy was eventually secure by 1060 and with appointment of supporting abbots and bishops in the Norman church, and he subsequently secured the region of Maine in 1062. William's first cousin once removed was the childless Edward the Confessor of England and from this family connection and that Edward had previously told him he would succeed, he assumed a claim to the throne of England over Harold Godwinson, who Edward had named as his successor on his deathbed in January 1066. William also claimed that Harold previously had promised the throne to him in the event of succession, Harold having sworn over holy relics in William's presence as depicted in the Bayeux tapestry. William therefore built up a powerful invasion force to cross the channel and fight for the right to rule England as of September 1066. He landed at Pevensey Bay and after setting up camp with a basic fort at Hastings he marched north to meet Harold at Senlac Hill at Battle, East Sussex on the 14^th October. A battle raged for most of the day, with at one point a rumour spread that William was slain resulting in him having to remove his helmet and reveal he was alive and fighting, boosting the morale of the Normans for the final onslaught in which Harold perished, either from an arrow in the eye or cut down by a horseman. William then went on a military tour to put down local uprisings leading to his crowning in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. He made arrangements in London for governance for whenever he would be in Normandy, and by 1075 his hold on England was almost complete with many forts and castles constructed. His later years involved quelling other uprisings in Europe and difficulty with his eldest son Robert Curthose, but his most famous achievement in England was the preparation of the Domesday Book in 1086; a survey of the land and the land-owners and nobles within it, listing pre-conquest and current holders at that time. William died in September 1087 leading a campaign in northern France and was buried at Caen. Normandy was given to eldest son Robert, with England given to his next surviving son William Rufus.

Situated in Dorset on the River From some six miles north of Weymouth, a Royal house was in use here at the time of Aethelstan, with a castle later on in the 12-13^th Centuries. Minting activity occurs from the reign of Aethelred II to Baronial civil unrest in the time of King Stephen and there is a die link with Warminster in the reign of Edward the Confessor.

Provenance:
Ex Heritage, Auction 3038, New York, 13th January 2015, lot 34703 when slabbed AU50.
Ex Dix Noonan Webb, Auction 159, 3rd July 2019, lot 379.

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