William I (1066-87), silver profile Penny, type I (c.1066-68?), Bath Mint, moneyer Brungar, crowned bust left with sceptre, extending to bottom of coin, legend commences at lower left with outer beaded circle surrounding both sides, +PILLELM REX, rev. annulet at centre of cross fleury, +BRVGAR ON BAÐ, 1.31g (BMC type I; N.839; S.1250). Toned, a very pleasing coins, practically extremely fine and of the highest rarity, we can only trace one other inferior example sold in the last ten years which appears to be the only other coin currently in existence.

The legends translate as "William King" on obverse and "Brungar of Bath" on the reverse. Brungar first appears as a moneyer at Bath with this first profile issue of William I and is one of four moneyers at this mint in this reign.
Dr Martin Allen records only two examples in existence of which this is the best in his article "Mints and Moneyers of England and Wales 1066-1158 Addenda and Corrigenda" in the British Numismatic Journal 2016, volume 86, pages 164-190 where this coin and one other are recorded for the first time and illustrated, this coin as figure 1b. North records up to four moneyers working at Bath in this reign in types I, 3, 5 and 8.

The first Norman King of England, William the Conqueror born around 1028 was the son of Robert I of Normandy and Herleya. A descendant of Rollo, William became Duke of Normandy in 1035, he subsequently married Matilda of Flanders in the 1050s ensuring a powerful ally in that neighbouring region. After a protracted struggle and quashing rebellions, his hold over Normandy was eventually secure by 1060 and with appointment of supporting abbots and bishops in the Norman church, and he subsequently secured the region of Maine in 1062. William's first cousin once removed was the childless Edward the Confessor of England and from this family connection and that Edward had previously told him he would succeed, he assumed a claim to the throne of England over Harold Godwinson, who Edward had named as his successor on his deathbed in January 1066. William also claimed that Harold previously had promised the throne to him in the event of succession, Harold having sworn over holy relics in William's presence as depicted in the Bayeux tapestry. William therefore built up a powerful invasion force to cross the channel and fight for the right to rule England as of September 1066. He landed at Pevensey Bay and after setting up camp with a basic fort at Hastings he marched north to meet Harold at Senlac Hill at Battle, East Sussex on the 14th October. A battle raged for most of the day, with at one point a rumour spread that William was slain resulting in him having to remove his helmet and reveal he was alive and fighting, boosting the morale of the Normans for the final onslaught in which Harold perished, either from an arrow in the eye or cut down by a horseman. William then went on a military tour to put down local uprisings leading to his crowning in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day. He made arrangements in London for governance for whenever he would be in Normandy, and by 1075 his hold on England was almost complete with many forts and castles constructed. His later years involved quelling other uprisings in Europe and difficulty with his eldest son Robert Curthose, but his most famous achievement in England was the preparation of the Domesday Book in 1086; a survey of the land and the land-owners and nobles within it, listing pre-conquest and current holders at that time. William died in September 1087 leading a campaign in northern France and was buried at Caen. Normandy was given to eldest son Robert, with England given to his next surviving son William Rufus.

The old Roman City of Bath some 12 miles from Bristol was rebuilt by Alfred the Great after expulsion of the Danes and was part of the Burghal Hidage. King Eadgar was coronated there in 973 and in 1013 the Danish Swein went to Bath to receive submission from the western thegns. Bath was destroyed in 1088 in a rising orchestrated by Robert de Mowbray. It later became an episcopal seat in place of Wells in 1090 and William II granted the mint to the Bishop. Minting activity occurs in the English series from the time of Edward the Elder until King Stephen.

Provenance
Ex Furstenburg collection, Otto Helbing Nachf auction, Munich, 14th December 1933, lot 154.
Ex Commander Robert Gerhardt, Spink 215, 4 December 2012, lot 68.
Ex Spink Coin Auction, 28th January 2019, lot 1609.