Circa 1138-1152. Obv: profile bust with sceptre and +NEN[C]I:CO[N] legend. Rev: cross fleury with +:WIL[E]NL:ON:CARD legend (with RD ligated or monogram) for the moneyer Willelm at the Carlisle mint. As struck, full flan, attractive surfaces and tone, extremely rare; perhaps the finest known example (EMC records three other examples of this mint/moneyer issue, including a cut halfpenny).

PROVENANCE:
Found near Eden, Cumbria, UK, 2011; reported and recorded with EMC and PAS.

LITERATURE:
S. 1311; N. 913; see EMC 2011.0165 and PAS LANCUM-C7BD67 (this coin and sold with printed extracts from the records); see also S. 5011 (Scotland).

FOOTNOTES:
Prince Henry was the son of David I of Scotland and was bestowed with the Earldom of Northumberland by Stephen. Henry died in 1152 and his son Malcolm became King of Scotland (as Malcolm IV, 1153-1165) on the death of David. The earldom had mints at Carlisle, Corbridge and, possibly, at Bamborough, with moneyers Herebeald, Ricard and Willelm. Pennies were struck in Henry's name with legends reading HENRICVS COM or NENCI COM (for Henry, Count). These coins are sometimes considered to be issues of both England and Scotland (and are often catalogued under both countries) as, although struck within an earldom considered to be English and for which Henry owed fealty to Stephen, Henry was son and heir to David for Scotland, so he would have issued Scottish coins had he lived longer and inherited the Scottish throne. The basic type is generally similar to the Period C coins of David (but without pellets in the reverse angles) and, as with almost all coins of the period, examples are usually seen to be poorly struck; often with flat areas and poor legends.