The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

COINS OF STEPHEN AND OTHERS FOUND AT NOTTINGHAM. 39
STEPHEN.
The coins of Stephen present in the hoard are more
numerous than those of Henry, and some of them, as will
be seen, are of peculiar interest, though the general type is
by no means uncommon, being that of Hawkins, No. 270.
The most remarkable are some coins of which the
obverse die has been intentionally defaced, and of these
there are two varieties. In the case of one of these a
large cross has been cut in the die reaching to the edge
of the coin and defacing the King's head. A coin of this
kind has already been published in the " Numismatic
Chronicle " 2
by Canon Pownall, F.S. A., who has sug-
gested that such coins were struck under the Empress
Maud when for lack of time to engrave fresh dies those
of Stephen were used, having been previously defaced in
this manner.
Two coins of this peculiar character are shown in the
Plate (Nos. 3 and 4), and both seem to have been issued
from the Norwich mint, though the legend on the reverse
is in neither case entirely legible. They appear to be
No. 8. + EDS ... ON NOR. (17* grs.) PI. III. No. 8.
No. 4. + . . LAREI? ON: NO. (19* grs.) PI. HI. No. 4.
In the other variety of coins struck from the defaced
dies of Stephen a line has been cut from the edge of the
die up to the back of the crown on the King's head, and
a cross has been impressed upon his cheek, below which
is a pellet. These coins appear to be all of the Nottingham
mint a point of great interest in connection with
this find. The moneyer's name is probably Sweyn, though
it appears to read SIEIN.
2 N.S., vol. ii. p. 189.