Description
William I of the House of Normandy, Norman King of England 1066-1087 AD, Silver Penny (1.42g, 20mm), PAXS type, Winchester mint 1083-1086 AD, moneyer Leofwold. Obverse: Diademed, crowned and draped bust of King William I facing forward, annulet on right shoulder, holding Lis-tipped sceptre in right hand, inner lined border and legend beginning with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “P[I]LLE[LM] REXI”. Reverse: Short cross pattée central, “PAXS” within circle in each angle, inner lined border and legend beginning with initial mark cross pattée surrounds, “LIF[PO]LD ON PINC[I]”. North-848. Typical minor areas of weakness of strike and very lightly crimpled, nicely toned otherwise and quite a decent portrait in hand, details Very Fine.
The obverse legend reads “Willelm Rēx”, with an English translation of “King William” – the spelling of the King’s name is derived from the proto-Germanic “Wiljahelmaz”, from ‘wiljô’ (“will”) + ‘helmaz’ (“helmet”), and is likely a variation of the Old High German spelling “Willahelm” or the Anglo-Norman spelling “Willame”. The reverse legend reads “Leofwold on Winchester”, with an English meaning of “Moneyer Leofwold of Winchester mint”.