Penny - Civil War (Ornamented group; Eustace Fitzjohn) ND (1140-1149) front Penny - Civil War (Ornamented group; Eustace Fitzjohn) ND (1140-1149) back
Penny - Civil War (Ornamented group; Eustace Fitzjohn) ND (1140-1149) photo
© Spink and Son

Penny - Civil War Ornamented group; Eustace Fitzjohn ND

 
Silver 0.86 g 19 mm
Description
Issuer
England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies)
King
Stephen (1135-1154)
Type
Standard circulation coin
Years
1140-1149
Value
1 Penny
Currency
Penny (924-1158)
Composition
Silver
Weight
0.86 g
Diameter
19 mm
Shape
Round (irregular)
Technique
Hammered
Demonetized
Yes
Updated
2024-10-08
References
Numista
N#123839
Rarity index
100%

Reverse

Cross fleury over ornamented saltire, annulets in field.

Comment

Eustace Fitzjohn's family originally came from the south-east of England but he made his career serving in the court of King Henry I and became a man of power and influence in the north. On the death of Henry, Eustace initially swore fealty to the new King Stephen but after some skirmishes and sieges between Stephen, Queen Matilda (daughter and heir apparent to Henry) and King David of Scotland (uncle to Matilda), Eustace became a supporter of David. It was around this time of the Anarchy that these silver pennies were struck, usurping the king's right to maintain a monopoly on the coinage of the realm, a right that has been entrenched since Anglo Saxon times. Mack 226

Interesting fact

One interesting fact about the Standard circulation coin Penny - Civil War (Ornamented group; Eustace Fitzjohn) ND (1140-1149) from England (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) made of Silver weighing 0.86 g is that it was minted during the reign of King Stephen, who ruled England from 1135 to 1154. This coin was part of a series of coins minted during the Civil War period, which lasted from 1135 to 1153, and it features a unique design that sets it apart from other coins of the time.