Ancient, British and World Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

Stephen (1135-1154), Eustace (c.1150), Penny, York, ‘Ornamented’ series, Thomas FitzUlf, knight standing to right, holding sword upright, EVSTACIVS around, reverse T[H]OM[AS FI]L[IVS] VIF, cross in quatrefoil, ornaments in angles and tressures, 0.87gm (BNJ Coin Register 1994, 290, same dies; M. 223, same obv. die; N. 929b; S. 1317). Two small edge chips at 5 and 6 o’clock, upper obverse (and corresponding reverse) weakly struck up, otherwise fine for this coinage, of the highest rarity (£4000-6000)

Only five specimens known to the cataloguer, all of which share the same obverse die, viz.BMC 266 and 267, SCBI Mack 1633 [= Mack Pt I, lot 289], the example recorded by Craig Barclay in BNJ Coin Register 1994, no. 290, found at Flaxby, N. Yorks., in January 1994, and the present specimen, the die-axis of which is 180°. The Flaxby coin and this one, which are from the same pair of dies, share somewhat similar weaknesses in their striking characteristics.

Much debate in recent years has surrounded the pennies of the so-called ‘Ornamented’ series, formerly known as the ‘York Group’. Unquestionably of a ruler named Eustace, it is uncertain whether these are coins of Stephen’s father-in-law, Count Eustace III of Boulogne (Seaby, BNJ 1983, p.17) or, as appears more likely, of Stephen’s son, Eustace Fitzjohn (BNJ 1986, p.89), who died in 1153.

See back cover illustration