William II Penny, Profile right type I, Romney Mint, moneyer Coc

William II (1087-1100), silver profile type Penny (1086-89), Romney Mint, Moneyer Coc, crowned bust to edge of coin in profile right holding sword, Latin legend commencing lower left with inner linear and outer beaded circles surrounding both sides, +PILLELM RE, rev. annulet at centre of cross pattée over cross fleury in saltire, +COC ON RIIMNE, weight 1.05g (N.851; S.1258). Toned, weak in one part of legend both sides, with a pleasing portrait a bold very fine and very rare.

The Latin legends translate as "William King" on obverse and "Coc of Romney" on the reverse.

North records up to five moneyers working at Romney for William I and II and producing all types for William II except IV.

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^ndAugust 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.

Romney is nearly ten miles from Hythe in the "Garden of England" Kent and was an important port in Saxon and Norman times being one of the "Cinque Ports" however with subsequent silting up of the area the village of Romney now lies over three miles from the sea today and is now more well known for the raising of sheep and lambs. Minting activity occurs here from the reign of Aethelred II to Henry I.

Romney is nearly ten miles from Hythe in the "Garden of England" Kent and was an important port in Saxon and Norman times being one of the "Cinque Ports" however with subsequent silting up of the area the village of Romney now lies over three miles from the sea today and is now more well known for the raising of sheep and lambs. Minting activity occurs here from the reign of Aethelred II to Henry I.

Provenance:

Ex Philip William Poole Carlyon-Britton, Sotheby, 17^th November 1913, lot 1878

Ex Richard Cyril Lockett, English part IV, 27^th April 1960, lot 3874, sold for £25

Ex Baldwin Auction 40, 3^rd May 2005, lot 128.