Pfennig of Heinrich III

This coin was found in Bedfordshire by Martin Haines on 24 September. It was identified and placed on record by Dr Martin Allen, who is based at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. The finder asked if I would provide him with a rough valuation figure.

On the obverse is a crowned head facing forward. On the reverse, side by side, are the busts of Saint Simon and Saint Judas. Very little detail of the legend shows up on both sides.

The coin is a German pfennig of Heinrich III, whose dates are 1146 to 1156, which is a product of the mint situated in Goslar. The EMC reference is given as 2023.0374.

I traced a few other examples and all were as badly struck as this example, which has an off-set obverse and flat areas on both sides. Interestingly, the date range – 1146 to 1156 – includes the end of the reign of Stephen and the start of the reign of Henry II, which were both periods in England when the standard of coinage production was very poor.

Valuation

In terms of its possible commercial value, a pfennig of the same type in slightly better condition was sold at auction earlier this year and the hammer price was $90 (about £75). Basing my valuation figure on the recent sale price, I’d say £60 at best for this coin.

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