Most of my hammered British coins fall in the VF category for grades. I have tried to buy better, but most of what I run into has seen a fair amount of use. I was really impressed with this piece when it cropped up in an auction. Edward II is not hard king to find, but most of his pennies are well worn. This is a very nice AU using American collector standards. NGC graded this AU-58. Here is the piece that was the only example of an Edward II penny I had. This is typical of what you will find when you are looking for this king.
Great example, congrats. My only one. Edward II (1307-1327 A.D.) AR Penny Class 15b O: EDWAR R ANGL DNS HYB, Crowned facing bust. R:VILL SCI EDMVNDI, Voided long cross pattée; three pellets in quarters 17.8mm 1.03g Bury St Edmunds (1320 - c.1333) Spink # 1462. North 1067.
Don't think he was really that happy - Scots crushed his forces at Bannockburn. He thence became a remarkably unpopular monarch amongst the nobles and well - he met an untimely "end" in 1327. @johnmilton yes indeed that is a nicer example of a monarch whose coins are rather deficient in quality compared to his father's coinage.
He was almost certainly gay, and that got him into a lot of trouble. He treated his two partners (They were not at the same time.) better than he did the people of England and his wife, the queen. She eventually left him, went back to her native France, and was instrumental in getting him overthrown. One of his two partners was beheaded by a Welsh knight. The other was executed in public and a most gruesome way. You can search Wikipedia to get the details. There are two versions concerning his ultimate demise. One had him going to Italy and living out the rest of his days there. The other (more likely) had him held as a prisoner where he was executed by having a hot poker pushed up where "the sun does not shine." This was medieval times, and folks were not concerned about cruel and unusual punishments in those days, especially when the victim was very unpopular.
@johnmilton Edward II certainly wasn't the only British monarch so inclined. However opin of him was certainly tainted by that infernal "Braveheart" movie that took many a liberty with facts.
No, actually his father, Edward I, was "the heavy" in the Braveheart movie. If Edward II had been heading the army that opposed William Wallace, Wallace might have won. Edward II was not much of a military leader. A lot of people think the William II, who was William the Conqueror's son was gay. There were stories of young men "mincing around in his court in various states of undress." He was also one of the few kings who never married. Unlike Edward II, he was a strong warrior, which is one of the reasons why his father picked him to succeed him. William II, a.k.a. "Rufus," died in a "hunting accident" that was probably arranged by his brother, Henry I. His pennies are usually horrible. These two are quite nice.
Your coin really is exceptional. My example, in contrast, is in the condition that you typically see with these coins: Kingdom of England, Edward II, AR penny, 1305–1310 AD (class 10cf(3?)), London mint. Obv: +EDWA R ANGL DNS hYB, crowned bust facing within a tressure of arches, fleurs on cusps. Rev: CIVI-TAS LON-DON; long cross, three pellets in each angle. 18mm, 1.40g. Ref: Spink 1410–1414.
Nice upgrade! I only have one Edward II that is reasonably nice. England. Plantagenet. Edward II, AD 1307-1327. AR Penny (18mm, 1.38g, 10h). New coinage, Class 15a. Canterbury mint, struck AD 1320-circa 1327. Obv: +EDWAR R ANGL DNS HYB; Crowned facing bust. Rev: CIVI TAS CAN TOR; Long cross pattée; triple pellets in angles. Ref: North 1066; SCBC 1461.
Before I decided to go for a real challenge and collect Scots, I collected English and had most monarchs save Richard III. Whence I get around to re-imaging my Scots I'll post them here. Have a John Balliol penny coming my way in the morrow. That said I still hae some booty from south of Hadrian's wall.
