Henry II (1154-1189), Short Cross series, Penny, class 1b, London, Iefrei, IEFREI · ON · LVND, curls 2/5, crosslets by neck. additional pellets in obv. field, 1.32g/9h (cf. SCBI Mass 274ff; N 963; S 1344). Nearly very fine, extremely rare £200-300

The crosslets by the neck are quite clearly from similar punches to the crosslets on the reverse. However, they are not a ghost image of the reverse caused by the striking since they are quite clearly raised on the coin and not incuse. It looks as if the die-cutter started to make a reverse die then partly erased his work before superimposing the obverse design on it. SCBI Mass 313 notes ‘traces of rev. design under portrait on obv.’ Unfortunately it is not absolutely clear from the illustration whether this is similar to the present specimen or merely due to mis-striking; it does however look to be from a very similar obverse die