Earl Patrick of Salisbury (c.1145-68), silver Penny, Salisbury Mint, moneyer Stanung, armoured bust with helmet holding sword right, star behind bust, beaded border and legend surrounding commencing at bottom, +COME(S) PAT(RI CO)M, rev. quadrilateral on cross fleury, beaded border and legend surrounding, (STA)NIVNG: ON: (SA), 1.03g (BMC Baronial 292; Mack 271; N.947; S.1336). Toned, on an undulating flan and a little off-centre on the reverse, all the most important identifying elements clear, an imposing facial portrait, the star behind, the “Comes” legend and PAT of the name, only known at the mint of Salisbury for moneyer Stanung, very fine for this Baronial issue and extremely rare, currently only six examples known, four of which are in museums rendering this coin of the highest rarity in commerce.

The first known example of this type was discovered as part of the Winterslow Hoard of 1804 - a village a few miles from Salisbury - and the coin has been part of the British Museum Collection since 1842. The second example was written up by Lord Grantley in the British Numismatic Journal volume 16 published in 1921 when the exact attribution was still yet to be determined. That coin had emanated in 1884 from the foundations of East Tytherly Church within four miles of the Winterslow Hoard, and Lord Grantley had obtained it directly from the Reverand S Bourdillon the former vicar of the said church. The Grantley coin later passed to R.C. Lockett and then on to Dr William Conte, from which it found its way to the Fitzwilliam Museum collection along with two other examples that Dr Conte acquired also found in the Salisbury area. Since that time, one other has passed through the auction of Classical Numismatic Group, sale 86, 16th June 2010, lot 929, found near Salisbury, and now the present example which was also found in the same area and recorded with the Early Medieval Corpus. The coin offered herewith seems to reveal more of the legend than any other so far known all of which have helped build up the legends to what they are known to be today of the local moneyer Stanung of Salisbury.

Originally a supporter of King Stephen, Patrick (born circa 1122) became a powerful local official at a young age and was Constable of Salisbury by 1141. In that year he had his sister Sybil married to local rival John FitzGilbert the Marshal and switched his allegiance to Matilda Empress, from which his new Earldom later stemmed. The marriage of his sister produced his nephew William the Marshal who was later very influential in the reign of Henry III. Patrick himself married twice, the second of which was to Ela, daughter of William III Talvas, Duke of Alencon and Ponthieu in 1149. Ela was the widow of Willam de Warrene 3rd Earl of Surrey, and had four sons with Patrick, the eldest being William the second Earl of Salisbury. After the end of the civil war Patrick was a Governor of Poitou with nephew William the Marshal as Household Knight. Patrick died in an ambush 27th March 1168 in Poitier by the forces of Guy of Lusignan.

Provenance:
Found near Salisbury in 2018 and recorded on the Early Medieval Corpus as 2020.0110.
https://emc.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/full-record/20200110?&0=12000230&1=20100212&2=20200110&3=12000231

Estimate: £ 6,000 - 8,000