William II Penny, Cross in Quatrefoil type, Wilton Mint, Moneyer Saewine

William II (1087-1100), silver cross in quatrefoil type Penny (1089-92?), Wilton, Moneyer Saewine, 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 REX I, rev. pellet at centre of cross pattee in quatrefoil, pellet in each inner angle, +SEPINE ON PILTV, weight 1.39g (BMC type III 227; N.852; S.1259). Attractively toned, a little double struck on obverse, otherwise good very fine and rare.

The legends translate as "William King of the English" on obverse and on the reverse "Saewine of Wilton."

North records up to six moneyers working at Wilton for William I and I, producing types 1-3 for William 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^nd 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.

Wilton beside the River Nadder and Wylye situated north-west of Salisbury is in the Bughal Hidage and Alfred the Great was defeated here in 871. The town was burnt by Swein in 1003 when the mint was moved to Salisbury, with moneyers only returning later from circa 1020. Later the Empress Matilda spent Easter of 1141 here and Stephen suffered a defeat here in 1143. Minting activity occurs from the reign of Edgar until Henry II and then for Henry III.

Provenance:

Ex R. E. MacFadyen, Glendining, 22^nd January 1925, lot 154, sold for £4/12/6d.

Ex Richard Cyril Lockett, English part III, Glendining, 4^th November 1958, lot 2896 sold for £12, illustrated plate VIII.

Purchased from Spink and Son Ltd, March 1965.

Ex Marvin Lessen, North York Moors Collection, part 2, 3^rd July 2019, lot 382.

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