Denomination: Silver penny
Period: Plantagenets
Date: 1189-1199
Origin: London mint, Aimer, Class 3
Condition: Almost
Very Fine, slightly
off-centre and somewhat double struck
Obverse: Crowned facing
bust of Richard, holding sceptre in right hand, legend in name of his father
+hENRICVS RE[X]
Reverse: +AIMER
ON LVNDE, voided
short cross with four pellets in each angle
Size
and Weight: 18mm, 1.08g
References: Spink
1347
Features
and Provenance: All Richard's coins were issued in his
father's name, the only coins bearing his own name were produced in Ireland and
France.
Although Richard is one of England's most famous kings, it
is strange that he should have only ever spent six months in the
country and probably spoke little English. He was born in England in 1157,
the second surviving son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He spent most of
his youth with her in France were he excelled in the art of war. He was
betrothed at the age of nine to a French princess, Alais, but never married
her. Henry had her imprisoned for twenty five years and treated her as his own
mistress. Richard had little time for women and his own marriage to Berengaria
of Navarre was strategic and he spent little time with her and they had no
children. He is believed to have produced one child illegitimately, but the
mother is unknown.
Richard actually tried to depose his father on no less than
two occasions, so it is unsurprising that Henry II was not conducive to making
Richard his heir apparent. He did so, however, just two days before the death
of Henry after losing in battle to Richard. He gained the Angevin Empire but
was more interested in fighting in the Crusades. The 'Crusader King,' 'the
Lionhearted,' 'Coeur de Lion' and 'Richard Oc-e-Non' (yes and no) as he was
also know, eventually came to a truce during the Third Crusade instead of
gaining Jerusalem. He then travelled home again, but was captured and held to
ransom. His mother tried to raise funds to pay it, but had to turn to the
people of the Angevin Empire to free him, promoting him as 'Good King Richard'
although she had to pawn the crown jewels to finally achieve this. For all his
fame, sadly, his epithets appear to outnumber his actual achievements. He
died in 1199 from an arrow wound in the shoulder.
Condition
Summary. This varies with the age of coin and
there are grades between
Uncirculated
(U). As struck with no traces of wear
Extremely
Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all
parts of legend etc present, visible and clear
Very
Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher
parts of the relief, all parts of legend etc present, but maybe worn
Fine
(F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend
etc may be missing or not visible
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Code RNC169