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Penny - William II Voided Cross type
| Issuer | England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1092-1095 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
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| Reverse description | A bold voided cross — that is, a cross with a central linear void running along each arm — occupies the central field, dividing it into four quadrants, each containing a decorative element characteristic of the type. The cross and its decorative quadrant fillings are all contained within a plain inner circle. The moneyer's inscription, recording the name and mint of the issuing moneyer, runs clockwise around the periphery outside the inner circle. The execution is typical of the Voided Cross (BMC type IV) coinage of William II, with the cross design lending the type its name. |
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| Additional information |
William Rufus — so called for his ruddy complexion — was a deeply unpopular king whose reign was marked by extortionate taxation, prolonged vacancy of church offices so the Crown could pocket their revenues, and open contempt for the English baronage. The Voided Cross type was produced during one of his more aggressively extractive fiscal periods, when the Crown's manipulation of currency recoinages served as a de facto tax on the population forced to exchange old pennies at unfavorable rates.
North 853 is among the scarcer types of the reign, with a relatively limited number of moneyers documented across surviving examples.