William II Penny, Cross in quatrefoil type, Southwark Mint, moneyer Wulfgar

```William II (1087-1100),silver cross in quatrefoil type Penny (1089-92?), Southwark Mint, Moneyer Wulfgar, facing crowned bust to edge of coin with sword resting on shoulder, legend commencing lower left with inner linear and outer beaded circles surrounding both sides, +PILLELM RE,rev.pellet at centre of cross pattee in quatrefoil, pellet in each inner angle, +PIILGIIR ON [SIIÐ], weight 1.11g (SCBI -; BMC type II 222; N.852; S.1259).Weakly struck in parts as usual for this cruder issue, good portrait, very fine and very rare.

The legends translate as "William King of the English" on obverse and on the reverse "Wulfgar of Southwark."

North records up to eleven moneyers working at Southwark for William I and II.

William Rufus was the third son of William I, with the name Rufus perhaps a reference to him being a red-haired child or less likely due to ruddy appearance. He never married or had any children, and was a wise ruler and a victorious leader, but at the same time some said uncultivated in taste, without dignity or social graces and without showing religious piety or morales, and some said even addicted to vices. He did however maintain justice and good order for England, the throne of which he received on the death of his Father, with his eldest brother Robert Curthose inheriting Normandy with whom William had a peaceful relationship. William Rufus extended rule into Anglo-Norman Wales and had Scotland under his lordship whilst he recovered Maine while pressuring Vexin in France. William famously suffered his death whilst hunting in the New Forest on 2<sup>nd</sup>August 1100, a stray arrow taking his life, perhaps accidental with unproven suspicions of murder, his nobleman having deserted him in the heat of the moment. Ironically his elder brother Richard, the second son of William the Conqueror had also died in a New Forest hunting accident circa 1075, which paved the way for William Rufus to accede the English throne. As he died childless the throne then passed to his younger brother Henry known as Henry Beauclerc.

Southwark Mint on the south bank of the Thames separate from the City of London is mentioned in the Burghal Hidage and is part of old Surrey. The town was burnt by William the Conqueror in 1066 and later minting activity occurred in the Tudor period.

Provenance:

Ex AMR Coins bt Jan 2018