Kings of All England. Harold II Godwinson Penny ND (January 6-October 14th, 1066) XF40 NGC, Lewes mint, Oswold as moneyer, Pax type, S-1186, N-836, SCBI I (Fitzwilliam)-972-973 (same dies), SCBI XI (Reading)-185-186 (same dies), SCBI XVIII (Copenhagen)-Unl., SCBI XX (Mack)-1338 (same dies), SCBI XXX (American)-660-662 (same dies), MEC VIII-2341 (same dies). 1.20gm. +HΛLOLD REX ΛNG, crowned bust of Harold left, scepter held before / +OZǷOLD ON LEǷEEI, PAX across field between two lines. A still quite handsome rendition of this most commonly encountered mint for Harold's coinage, and yet a very rare issue nonetheless. Evenly worn over the devices, the coin suffers from no real loss of detail due to circulation, with the few areas of flatness on the reverse resulting from the gradual wearing-down of the die. We would note of the numerous published pieces from these dies, the example in the Fitzwilliam (no. 972) appears to be of the closest corresponding die state. Harold was the son of Earl Godwine of Wessex, brother-in-law to Edward the Confessor, who had gained prominence at court during that monarch's reign. While Harold successfully repelled the invasion of Harald Hardrada of Norway, he ultimately fell at the Battle of Hastings after a reign of just 9 months. From the Historical Scholar Collection

HID09801242017

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