The Lion by the Ant was Slain

Now Henry II is a man I can admire, Eleanor not quite so much. It is to him that we can attribute the creation of English common law with its trial by jury and soon to be enshrined into the written law by his other son, John as part of Magna Carta. I would like to get a penny from his reign as I like to collect coins from rulers associated with great events.

 

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Agreed - I haven’t yet nabbed an English penny of Henry II. I’m looking for both the short cross and Tealby type

 

I agree with you @FitzNigel and @kevin McGonigal regarding Henry II and his importance in English history. He was probably the most powerful man in Western Europe during the 12th century. One of the ironic things about his formalization of English common law is that much of it was an attempt to generate fines and court fees to finance his wars on the continent. I have a few coins of Henry II, and always love aging them to my collection. These are a couple of my favorites.
Henry II AR Tealby penny


Henry II AR Short Cross penny

 

Great coins Fitz, I have both of them at the top of my want list. Henry II Anglo-Gallic deniers just don't come up that much.

 

True - I was stunned when that one came up at CNG and no one else bid on it. Granted, it’s not the nicest looking one in the world, but they don’t come up often. Much of my thesis was centered around the reign of Henry II, so the man always fascinated me. I’m a little surprised I still don’t have any English coins of his...

 

For some reason I thought your academic background was in the Normans in southern Italy and Sicily. What was the subject of your thesis?

 

Here is my Henry II. I agree that Henry II is an important historical figure. However, would also state that his wife Eleanor was a very important woman of her time. I think she was remarkable in many ways. I also like to remember that women are often judged in their own time by measuring sticks we would never apply today. Remember that in her day many thought it very unnatural for women to pursue power. There is a great series right now on youtube called she wolves that deals with the issue.

 

My thesis was on “feudal” obligation in England with comparisons to the regno of Sicily - so it was both.

 

I'll throw my Henry II Tealby into the mix just for fun.