Contemporary copy of a William I penny

Vince Rees seem to be good at unearthing rarities, for here is another one. At first sight it looks like a straightforward penny of William I but on closer inspection it is very unusual.

The coin was reported to Dr Martin Allen (Fitzwilliam Museum) and Vince said it had been logged as a contemporary imitation, possibly made in Wales. The obverse seems to be based upon the sword type of William I but the reverse has characteristics that can be seen on both the sword and the two stars type. I could make no sense of the legend on either side.

Valuation

The overall condition is difficult to assess but the coin looks to be well struck with minimal circulation wear. As a contemporary imitation would it be of any value to a collector? I would most certainly be of interest to collectors, dealers and museums.

Imitations of coins of the Norman period are few and far between and this one is a rather nice example. I’d set a pre-sale auction estimate at £1,200 to £1,500 and would not be at all surprised if there was strong competition between prospective buyers in a saleroom.

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