Ancient, British and World Coins and Banknotes

Hiberno-Manx issues (c.1025), Sihtric Silkbeard, King of Dublin and Overlord of Man (c.1014-35), Penny (c.1025), early style in imitation of a Hiberno-Norse Phase II, initially derived from an English Long Cross penny of Æthelred II, blundered legend, quatrefoil of pellets before legend, in legend and behind bust, pellet in field behind head and vertical line in front, rev., voided long cross with pellet in each angle, blundered legend neiiiennninodhie copying the Dublin coins of the moneyer Feremin, 1.05g/9h (cf. Dolley, ‘A Hiberno-Manx Coinage of the Eleventh Century’, NC 1976, pp.75-84; S 7400). A full round coin of good metal, unusual for this, the first Manx coinage, good very fine, of extreme rarity and importance (£3,000-4,000)

The late Michael Dolley isolated this small but distinctive group of coins and attributed it to a mint on the Isle of Man active during the 1020s. This theory is supported by a Manx find-spot for the majority of the known specimens which are in public collections. Furthermore, the closely die-linked group of coins can be shown to ultimately derive from an actual Dublin Hiberno-Norse Phase II die, apparently taken to Man and subsequently copied. The series has been further researched by Kristin Bornholdt (BAR British Series 278, 1999) who has revealed early, middle and late styles.

Following Norwegian Viking raids at the end of the eighth century and the subsequent settlement of the island by Norse colonists, the Kingdom of Man became an integral part of the Viking world. Control of this strategically important island and the allegiance of its mixed Norse and Manx Gaelic population passed periodically between the two main Viking powers in the region, the Hiberno-Norse kings of Dublin and the Earls of Orkney, whose maritime possessions encompassed Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles and Caithness. Exploiting the weakness of his Orcadian and Manx allies following their defeat at the battle of Clontarf in 1014, Sihtric Silkbeard took control of the island. It continued to be a vassal of the kings of Dublin for the next 65 years and into this historical context Dolley placed the first coinage of the Isle of Man

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