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<p>[QUOTE="John Conduitt, post: 4621313, member: 109923"]Great post, thank you! When I was at school, William I was the 'start' of English history. 1066 is perhaps the most well-known date in England. As you say, he built buildings that lasted, and established systems and standards that lasted (not unlike Napoleon). Importantly, he got things recorded and written down (unlike the Saxons before him or quite a few monarchs after him), so we have that history today.</p><p><br /></p><p>In that context it is a little odd he didn't do much different with his coinage, although establishing a lasting quality standard is exactly what you'd expect from him.</p><p><br /></p><p>Sadly, I don't have a William I coin (yet). I do have one of his much, much less illustrious son, William II (which look very similar to William I's). The stars either side of William's head 'may' have represented Halley's Comet (which appeared in 1066), other comets in 1075 and 1097, or the annular solar eclipse in 1093, all thought to be good omens. I believe William I featured stars on his coins for the same reason (Halley's Comet and his Conquest of England nicely coinciding in 1066):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1144176[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>William II Penny, 1092-1095, voided cross type, Wulfword moneyer, 1.38g. N.853; S.1260; Hawkins 250[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="John Conduitt, post: 4621313, member: 109923"]Great post, thank you! When I was at school, William I was the 'start' of English history. 1066 is perhaps the most well-known date in England. As you say, he built buildings that lasted, and established systems and standards that lasted (not unlike Napoleon). Importantly, he got things recorded and written down (unlike the Saxons before him or quite a few monarchs after him), so we have that history today. In that context it is a little odd he didn't do much different with his coinage, although establishing a lasting quality standard is exactly what you'd expect from him. Sadly, I don't have a William I coin (yet). I do have one of his much, much less illustrious son, William II (which look very similar to William I's). The stars either side of William's head 'may' have represented Halley's Comet (which appeared in 1066), other comets in 1075 and 1097, or the annular solar eclipse in 1093, all thought to be good omens. I believe William I featured stars on his coins for the same reason (Halley's Comet and his Conquest of England nicely coinciding in 1066): [ATTACH=full]1144176[/ATTACH] William II Penny, 1092-1095, voided cross type, Wulfword moneyer, 1.38g. N.853; S.1260; Hawkins 250[/QUOTE]
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