YeOldeCollector Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 William I (the Conqueror) Paxs Penny from my own personal collection. William I, William the Conqueror, William the Bastard was King of England from 1066 until 1087. As many of you will know William invaded England in 1066 claiming victory over Harold Godwinson. Hence 1066 and the Battle of Hastings and the ensuing Norman Conquest of England. William was nicknamed "the Bastard" due to being the illegitimate son of Robert I Duke of Normandy, William succeeded his father as Duke at the age of eight. England was pretty much up for grabs when Edward the Confessor passed away as he had no children. Three men had their eyes on England, being William, Harold Godwinson and Harald Hadraada of Norway. The Witan, Anglo-Saxon political body, voted that Harold Godwinson was to be King of England. Leading to Harold II of England who ruled from 5th Jan 1066 until 14th Oct. He was to be the last Anglo-Saxon King of England and one of the only English monarchs to have died in battle, the other being Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. The Witan with an Anglo-Saxon King: William I changed the minting process and monetary system very little, we see no Norman moneyers until the reign of Henry I. All of the moneyers during William I's reign were typically English and many had worked under the reign of Edward the Confessor too. The fact that the Anglo-Saxon moneyers still held their jobs implied that the wealthy tradesmen and citizen-classes did not suffer greatly compared to the wealthy landowners who had much of their land stolen and redistributed. There were at least 69 mints in operation during William I's reign generally with at least four moneyers per mint. Eight different pennies were produced consisting of: Profile left type. Bonnet type. Canopy type. Two sceptres type. Two stars type. Sword type. Profile right type. and the Paxs type, which the coin above is. The Paxs type is the most common of William I's coins, in 1833 at Beasworth 6,500 pennies of William I were found. At least 6,400 of these were of the Paxs type. The Paxs type was issued in the years 1086 and 1087. Paxs means peace and the type was thought to have been produced to mark either the death of Cnut of Denmark who was assasinated on July 10th otherwise known as Saint Canute IV (b.1043-d.1086) or the fact that England was experiencing one of its most peaceful existences due to the Domesday Book having been completed and William fending off the Vikings. This particular penny was minted at Bristol mint by the moneyer Beorhtweard. The reverse reads BRIHTPORD ON BRI. Now, 6,500 William I pennies were found in one hoard alone and there must be thousands more in collections so it is most surprising that less than fifty coins of William I are known for Bristol mint. That is less than fifty coins from all his types, not just the Paxs. Therefore this penny is quite scarce given the lack of apparent Bristol pence. The reverse features a short cross pattée with PAXS within its limbs. The obverse features William's draped bust with arm and hand holding a sceptre which is spread across his breast. Reading PILLELM REX, i.e. King William. So, there we have it. My favourite William I Penny, Paxs issue. Beorhtweard on the scarce mint of Bristol. Not far off as-struck condition and measuring just under 2cm in diameter or about 3/4 of an inch. One of William I's first Castles, the gothic silhouette is early 19th Century but many of the original features still remain. William was a believer in the motte and bailey style as is shown by his string of Castles across his new kingdom. This being Windsor Castle. ^ Guildford Castle, also founded by William. ^ The White Tower at the Tower of London, also William's work. Images: http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/William_Conqueror_Bayeux_Tapestry.jpg http://www.solarnavigator.net/history/explorers_history/William_Conqueror_Bayeux_Tapestry.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Windsor_Castle_from_the_air.jpg http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/guildford/img/guildford2m.jpg http://www.infobritain.co.uk/White_Tower.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuldFartte Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 You have the most amazing collection of English hammered coinage I've ever seen, and the history lessons you provide are simply fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing all of these with us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted January 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Thank you very much AuldFartte, I have only put a few of my coins here on CP for others to see. I have hundreds more in my collection and will probably put many more on CP for others to see. It's good to get comments like yours as it means that I will put more on as I know people are looking at them and learning from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drusus Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 You have the most amazing collection of English hammered coinage I've ever seen, and the history lessons you provide are simply fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing all of these with us. ditto! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted January 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Cheers Chris! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 1, 2009 Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Definitely looking and enjoying your collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted January 1, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2009 Good to hear, you can look forward to more soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted January 2, 2009 Report Share Posted January 2, 2009 Oh, good. I'm glad to see what a great history is in the UK museum forum. Thanks, Clive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Magnificent collection of coins, they have left me speechless, the william 1st is utterly beautiful coin, and they are a superb referance for newbys like myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooly Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Magnificent collection of coins, they have left me speechless, the william 1st is utterly beautiful coin, and they are a superb referance for newbys like myself Stuning coin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hussulo Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 I agree, fantastic coins and it's nice to read about the history that goes along with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
De Orc Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 As usual Clive a stunning coin and a wonderful write up to go with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordie582 Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 Just up to your usual standard, Clive It always make me green with envy and getting greener with each post It might interest you to know, my first coin collection, in the dim and distant past, was housed in a cabinet I had made myself and was Covered with marquetry of the Witan taken from the picture you show! After many years I sold the collection and the cabinet was stored - and fell to pieces when I retreaved it! DIY? I found an old photo where it is present in the back-ground! Here's a linnk Another try Isn't it strange, I had the picture up OK, now it's gone. I have some sort of jinx when it comes to images Now I am confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted May 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 Just up to your usual standard, Clive It always make me green with envy and getting greener with each post Well I won't tell you what I plan to purchase this month then... Wow! I would never be able to make myself a cabinet, I'd end up super-gluing the coins to the trays by accident! I would love to see some pictures as the one above doesn't seem to be working How did you make it? What did you collect? I never knew this about you and assumed you had always focused on Edward I. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordie582 Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 I've added another link. " Another try"-Try that. I actually started with Hammered coins which were affordable then. But I amassed a large number of Victorian silver, in EF. They were plentiful in Malta when I was there for not much more than Double face. Sadly all sold at knock-down prices to buy my first computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NumisMattic2200 Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Mmm beautiful coin -wish it was mine.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Just up to your usual standard, Clive It always make me green with envy and getting greener with each post It might interest you to know, my first coin collection, in the dim and distant past, was housed in a cabinet I had made myself and was Covered with marquetry of the Witan taken from the picture you show! After many years I sold the collection and the cabinet was stored - and fell to pieces when I retreaved it! DIY? I found an old photo where it is present in the back-ground! Here's a linnk Another try Isn't it strange, I had the picture up OK, now it's gone. I have some sort of jinx when it comes to images Now I am confused! Bild nicht verfugbar - I think I just found a new German curse word to try out on unsuspecting miscreants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 BTW YOC, nice penny. I once owned a similar example of the PAXS penny but minted by Winedi on Cntl, Canterbury. Unfortunately I sold it when I started acquisitioning kiddos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goossen Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 Great post as usual, I really enjoy it. Thanks for sharing your amazing collection! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordie582 Posted October 27, 2009 Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 The missing photo Well! Still trying to post this damned photo!!! Another go! Yipee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted October 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2009 The missing photoWell! Still trying to post this damned photo!!! Another go! Yipee! Wow, a very nice cabinet Richard!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordie582 Posted October 31, 2009 Report Share Posted October 31, 2009 As usual, moving around in the RAF soon put paid to it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabeebrian Posted March 10, 2012 Report Share Posted March 10, 2012 Superb! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaelanthony Posted November 30, 2012 Report Share Posted November 30, 2012 Hi Clive,yep i agree also,the penny is fab!!! and the history lesson too, perhaps you can do your next lesson on the commemoritive penny of saint edmund?? im a little confused as to why the vikings made pennies to commemorate him even though they murdered him? or do i have the wrong end of the stick? regards again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ætheling Posted December 2, 2012 Report Share Posted December 2, 2012 That's a stunning coin! There's nothing quite like Norman era coins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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