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Penny - Civil War Ornamented group, Eustace Fitzjohn
| Issuer | England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1140-1149 |
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| Currency | Penny (924-1158) |
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| Obverse description | A rampant lion facing right occupies the central field, rendered in the schematic, ornamental style characteristic of the Anarchy-period baronial issues. The beast stands above a row of fleurs-de-lis or crenellated base, with stars and annulets disposed decoratively in the surrounding field. The whole design is enclosed within a beaded inner circle, with an outer legend border bearing the issuer's name. The coin is struck on an irregular, clipped flan typical of hammered silver pennies of this period. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a bold cross fleury at centre, its arms terminating in trefoil or fleur-de-lis finials, superimposed over an ornamented saltire whose arms curve outward in decorative volutes. Annulets are scattered in the angles of the cross and in the surrounding field, adding to the ornate character of the design. The overall composition is enclosed within a beaded inner circle with a plain border, consistent with the elaborate decorative vocabulary of the Civil War Ornamented group. The flan is irregular and slightly chipped at the edges, as is typical of hand-struck issues of this baronial series. |
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| Additional information |
Eustace Fitzjohn was one of the most powerful northern barons of the Anarchy, the civil war fought between King Stephen and Empress Matilda following the death of Henry I in 1135. He initially backed Stephen, then defected to the Empress — a pragmatic switch that nonetheless allowed him to maintain enough regional authority to issue his own coinage in the north. Baronial coin-issuing during this period was largely a symptom of collapsed royal control rather than formal grant.
North 931 is among the rarer baronial types of the Anarchy period.