Richard the Lionheart a couple of interesting coins

I won't go into much of his life and history as he is as well documented as any figure of his time. He left England at age 16 to defend his father Henry's name in Poitou. He is also very well know for his roll in the 3rd Crusade against Saladin. He lived most of his adult life in Aquataine.

There are no English coins that bare his name. All English coins minted under his authority in England bare the name of his father Henry. It's my understanding that the coins of Henry were well received throughout Europe due to their silver quality and they didn't want upset that. This practice was carried out by his brother John (1199-1216).

The only coins that actually name Richard were minted in Feudal France in Poitiers and Aquataine.

Obv. RICARDVS in two lines, above a crosslet and below what the book calls an omega.
Rev. +AQUITANIE around a cross. Minted in Aquataine as duke (1169-1196)

Obv. RICARDVS REX around cross.
Rev. PIC-TAVIE-NSIS arranged in three lines. Minted in Poitou as King of England (1169-1196).
I have no coins of Richard minted in England but have one of his brother John (1199-1216) showing the use of their father Henry's name. I am taking a very reputable dealers word for the attribution. My understanding is the only way to tell the difference is style.
Obv. HENRICVS REX around facing portrait.
Rev. WILLELM.T.ON.LV minted in London. Please post pictures or anything that you feel is relevant. By the way, do coins of Saladin exist? If so I would love to add one to my collection.

 

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Those are great, would gladly add all to my medieval collection.

 

Well, I've been waiting to do a post on Richard myself, but after giving up on trying to grab one of his Cyprus Crusader issues from the recent ROMA auction, I'll just unload here.

I don't have an issue from Aquitaine (yet), and the issue from Issoudun is nearly impossible to find (with half in museums). My first ever medieval coin was an issue of Richard's from Poitou:

French Feudal, Poitou
Richard I, r. 1168-1185
AR Denier, 17mm x 1 grams
Obv.: +RICARDUS REX, cross patée, annulet in third quarter
Rev.: PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, written in three parallel lines
Ref.: AGC 343A (1/a), Duplessy 926, Roberts 3887, SCBC 8008, De Wit 394

While mint and moneyer can help attribute some of the English coins of Richard apart from his father and brother, you are correct in stating it is dependent on style. One of the standard styles that tells Richard's coins apart from others is the existence of seven pearls on his crown:

England
Richard I, r. 1189-1199 A.D.
London Mint, AR Short Cross Penny, 20.06mm x 1.8 grams
Obv.: [hEN]RICVS R[EX]. Bust facing seven pearled crown with sceptre
Rev.: +[RIC]ARD . ON . LVN. Short cross voided with quatrefoil in each angle
Ref.: North 967, SCBC 1347, CC99 R11D-010, De Witt 3193

When Richard was returning from the third Crusade, he was captured by the Duke of Austria and held for ransom. John back in England was this in charge of raising this ransom, and it was paid in many of these short cross styled pennies. Because of the heavy weight and fitness of these English pennies, the style would be frequently copied throughout the Holy Roman Empire:


German States, Osnabrück
Bishop Konrad I von Velber, r. 1227-1239 (1236-39)
AR Pfenning, 17.71 mm x 1 gram
Obv.: SANCT' PE[T']. Head of St. Peter facing holding key
Rev.: +CON[RAD]VS EPC'. Voided short cross with quatrefoil in each angle
Note: Imitation of Short Cross Sterling.

 

Great info FitzNigel. Thank you for adding to my knowledge of his coins. I am very short on references for this period. Can you make any recommendations that won't break the bank?

 

nice alde! a coin from this cat is on the list for sure!

 

I honestly just use the Seaby/SPINK manual. It has a description of the different styles which you can kind of suss out (after narrowing it down by mint and moneyer). I borrowed North's book on English hammered coins from the ANA library, but I can't really say it was that helpful. I'm aware of a book specifically on short cross coins that I hope to nab at some point, but I can't remember the title...

 

I only just noticed the question about Saladin's coins - they do exist. I don't have any, but I'm fairly certain I've seen others here post them. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think @Sallent might have one?

 

Interestingly, an older Richard Lionheart topic recently got "revived" in the World forum. Feel free to ignore the posts added after 2010.

Christian

 

AYYUBID Caliphate -
Saladin al-Nasir Salah al Din Yusuf
AH564-589 1169-1193 CE
AR Dirham 21 mm, 2.7g
Mint: Hamah, possibly AH 582 (AD1186)
Obv: The name the ruler al-Nasir Salah al-Din v Dunya inside a square.
Rev: The name and the titles of the caliph al-Nasir inside a square.
Ref: Album #787.2,
Notes: This is a rare mint with clear date.

 

Nice. I will definitely add one of these to my collection when I come across the right deal and have the money to spend.

 

While not a coin of Saladin, the connection may make this of interest. These are not rare well worn but the example here is nicer than what I have seen. I do not have one.
https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=286555

 

That's interesting Doug and certainly adds to the story of the 3rd Crusade. I like having groups of coins with a theme.

 

alde, I love your cool OP-additions (congrats)

Sadly, I don't have any Richard-examples to add

 

Hello Albert, thank you for showing us your deniers for Richard I minted in his french dominions of Poitou and Aquitaine. Those are very appealing coins.
I don't have any of his french-issue coins, but looking at yours, I may seriously consider finding one.

I showed my english issue for Richard I a few days ago, and I am posting it here again for completion.

As you mentioned, Richard I coins minted in England actually bear his father's name HENRICVS. This can make attribution difficult. Attribution of his coins, however, can be made based on a number of distinguishing characteristics.
As FitzNigel mentions, the Spink catalog contains some useful pointers for the attribution.
Otherwise, this text which I am quoting from an old thread mentions some of the characteristics which can be used to distinguish the coins of Richard I, Coeur de Lion: (see also the thread mentioned by Christian, above).

'' There are many identifying marks, portrait styles, and letter forms that can be used to distinguish between Henry II, Richard, John, and Henry III's short cross coins, all which bear the HENRICVS name. The details are plenty for specific class attribution, but a few general characteristics can be...the number of pearls in the crown, the number and form of the the hair curls to the right and left, and the form of the beard. (But even these general characteristics cannot be solely relied upon in all instances). Some short cross issues can be narrowed or attributed solely based on the moneyer or the form of a single letter or i.m. It's kind of hard to narrow down a standard attributon of classes on a forum message board, that's why such references as MASS and North exist.

...Richard's name can also be found on his Issoudun (Berry) issue in addition to the Aquitaine and Poitou issues''.


Richard I., 1189-1199 Penny 1196/1199, London, with the name of Henry,
Short Cross type, Moneyer Raul. 1.46 g.
North 965 Spink 1347.

 

From my old folder, I picked up 3 coins. The first is a silver dirham from the Ayyubid dynasty. The second is worn but extremely rare and represents Noureddine El Zinki. He was well renown for his continuous battles against the Crusaders. His name is clear on the reverse of the coin. The third coin shows an Islamic Seljuk warier on horse dating back to the thirteenth century. I wish my coins were in better condition.

 

Mine was not too bad to capture. It was less than $100USD a couple years ago. I was not specifically trawling for it, but I always collect important historical figures that changed human events as a collecting mode.

I veni-vedi-vici'ed this one when I saw it for a reasonable price.

 

I see some great coins that add to the story of Richard the Lionheart that need to find their way into my collection. Now I know what to look for in an English penny of Richard. They are out there. I just want to find a decent one. Of course collecting coins of the Crusades could be a lifetime pursuit too. It never ceases to amaze me how much variety there is in numismatics.

 

Do any Richard 1 denier Aquitaine coins exist with a cross above and below the “RICARDUS” name .. or are they fakes?
Thanks for info

 

It is usually a cross above, and an omega beneath, but there are some with the omega above and the cross beneith. A cross above and below could be possible, but I’m not aware of any (nor are any listed in the Withers and Ford book).

Do you have a picture?

 

Great coins!