KENT-08D567: Pierced silver penny of William II

Rights Holder: Kent County Council
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COIN

Unique ID: KENT-08D567

Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow status: Published

A pierced and slightly worn Silver Medieval penny of William II (1087-1100), Cross voided type, North 853, BMC III. Moneyer Alfred, mint of Norwich. The coin has been pierced at roughly one o’clock. Reverse inscription +IELFRIEDONO_ǷI

Measurements: diameter: 21.27mm; diameter of pierced hole: 1.97mm; thickness: 0.74mm; weight: 1.34g.

Discussion: The coin appears to be issued by the previously unrecorded moneyer Alfred of Norwich. As is common on early Norman coins, the spelling IE is used to represent the character Æ. The coin dates from the middle of the reign of William II, but there is no absolute chronology, and the precise dating of coins of William I and William II remains the subject of debate.

Modification of coins into jewellery is typical of the mid-late 11th century and the piercing here may indicate the conversion of this coin into jewellery thus becoming an object other than a coin. There are now several precedents for regarding such finds as objects, rather than coins, since they would not have re-entered circulation as currency after such secondary treatment.

Conclusion: As a single object, rather than a coin, this find thus qualifies as potential Treasure. Coins of this period have a silver content far in excess of the 10% threshold stipulated by the Treasure Act (1996). Both in terms of age and precious metal content, this object therefore meets the key criteria for Treasure under the terms of the Act.

Evidence of reuse: Piercing At 1 o'clock

Subsequent actions

Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder

Treasure details

Treasure case tracking number: 2019T95

Chronology

Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1092
Date to: Circa AD 1095
Period of reuse: MEDIEVAL

Dimensions and weight

Quantity: 1
Thickness: 0.74 mm
Weight: 1.34 g
Diameter: 21.27 mm

Discovery dates

Date(s) of discovery: Sunday 23rd December 2018

Personal details

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Other reference numbers

Treasure case number: 2019T95

Materials and construction

Primary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete

Coin data (numismatics)

Denomination: Penny
Ruler/issuer: William II of England
Mint or issue place: Norwich
Category: Coin of Norman and Early Plantagenet England 1066-1180
Type: William II BMC iii (N 853)
Obverse description: Crowned bust facing star and pellet to left and right
Obverse inscription: +PILLE[LM].RI
Reverse description: Voided cross pattée with annulet in centre over a cross annulettée
Reverse inscription: +IELFR[I]ED O NO[DP]
Die axis measurement: 12 o'clock
Degree of wear: Very worn: fair

Coin references

No coin references available.

Spatial metadata

Region: South East (European Region)
County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Tonbridge and Malling (District)
Parish or ward: East Peckham (Civil Parish)

Spatial coordinates

4 Figure: TQ6650
Four figure Latitude: 51.22505644
Four figure longitude: 0.37591003
1:25K map: TQ6650
1:10K map: TQ65SE
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.

References cited

Author	Publication Year	Title	Publication Place	Publisher	Pages	Reference
North, J.J.	1994	English Hammered Coinage: Volume I. Early Anglo-Saxon to Henry III, c. 600-1272	London	Spink and Son Ltd

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Timeline of associated dates

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Audit data

Recording Institution: KENT
Created: 5 years ago
Updated: 2 years ago

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