Continental sterling of Arnold V of Looz
This coin was found in Northamptonshire by Bill Wiggins on the 10th of October. Bill said at first sight he assumed it was an Edward I penny but when he noticed there was no crown on the head on the obverse he realised it couldn’t be English. I was asked to provide a full ID and a valuation for Bill’s find.
The coin is a European sterling of the ‘pollard’ type, so-called because of the hair-style of the head on the obverse. We had one on the website last week and as they are quite scarce we didn’t expect another example this week.
The latest coin was struck for Arnold V of Looz, whose dates are 1279 to 1323. On the obverse the legend would read +COMES ARNOLDVS around the bare head of Count Arnold. The reverse is the English type but if the full legend was visible then it would read MON ETA COM ITIS. Sterlings of this type were struck at the Hasselt mint.
Valuation
On the obverse the head is excellent but the legend is flat from 2 to 6 o’clock. On the reverse more than 50% of the legend is flat. The flatness would have an impact on its commercial value but as the head is so attractive my price range would be no lower than £80-100.
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