Coins - Norman
Norman Coins - Empress Matilda - Pembroke / Gillapaidrig - Cross Moline Penny 1141-1145 AD. Copying cross moline Watford issue of Stephen. Obv: profile bust right with sceptre before and MA.TIL.DI:IMP: legend. Rev: cross moline with fleurs on cusps and [+G]ILLIPATRI:ON[:P] legend for the moneyer Gillipatric/Gillapaidrig at Pembroke mint.

The single moneyer mint at Pembroke (given on the coins as P/PA[I/N]) opened in the reign of Henry I and closed permanently in the reign of Henry II. The coins struck there are all very rare and Gillapaidrig (sometimes given as Gillopatric, Gilpatric or Gillopatri) is the only recorded moneyer in the Norman period. He strikes during the reign of Henry I. The mint continues striking in the reign of Stephen for his cross moline (Watford) type 1 , he is recorded in the Henry I Pipe Roll for 1130 AD as paying 20 shillings towards a fine debt of £4 apparently resulting from the ‘Purge of Moneyers’ assize held at Winchester in 1125 when most moneyers were castrated and lost their right hand as punishment; a few escaped this mutilation by paying a large fine. He is referred to on the website of the Pembroke and Monkton Local History Society. Empress Matilda (also known as Empress Maud) was the daughter of Henry I and his named heir to the throne of England. At the time of Henry I's death, she was not in England and Stephen of Blois, nephew of Henry I, persuaded many of the barons to support his claim and was crowned king in 1135 AD. The period of the Anarchy (1138-1154 AD) followed with Matilda and Stephen contesting the throne; Matilda issued coins in her name from locally made dies, both copying the first type of Stephen, as this coin and of other types, from mints variously under her control in Cardiff, Gloucester, Oxford, Wareham, London and Bristol; this is the first coin to be discovered for Matilda struck at Pembroke and represents a highly important addition to her coinage. The Pembroke mint finally closed in the reign of Henry II with early Tealby pennies struck by the moneyer Waltier in around 1161 AD.