Important British and World Coins

Stephen (1135-1154), Penny, Cross Moline type, Monmouth (?), Willelm, matildi · im, rev. wil[lelm : d]e : mvm[—], 1.05g/9h (Boon –; M –; N 936; S 1326). Some surface cracks and legends flat in places, otherwise very fine and extremely rare, the mint signature unrecorded (£3,000-4,000)

Provenance:
Found in Dorset c. 1990.

The portrait bears a striking similarity to that on a coin in the name of John struck at Cardiff by the moneyer Willem (see G.C. Boon, Coins of the Anarchy, pp.27-8, no.22). The thin irregular lettering (note the w formed of overlapping vs) and the presence of de instead of on suggest a South Wales origin, an argument possibly supported by the knowledge that Willem/Willelm struck coins of this style at Cardiff.

It should perhaps be mentioned that the late George Boon was shown a photograph of this coin and was of the opinion that it may have been struck at Malmesbury if the v of the mint signature could be interpreted as an inverted a. The cataloguer does not share this opinion and considers it pertinent to mention that the content of the Box (Wiltshire) Hoard does not throw any further light on the matter. Furthermore, the later mint signature for Montrose, mvn or nvn, might be considered supportive of the attribution to Monmouth