Obverse:

HAROLD REX ANG. Crowned bust l. with sceptre in front.

Reverse:

ODPINE ON Ð[-]FOR. PAX between two lines, across field.

Slight crease otherwise very fine and very rare. Only 2 examples noted by Pagen; SCBI 1 - Fitzwilliam Museum - Number 978 (same obverse die) and Lord Grantley Collection, Glendining Auction, 22 Mar 1944 - Lot 1234 reading GODPINE ON DEOTF. A cut half penny and farthing have since been discovered and are recorded on the EMC.

Ex 'The Braintree' Hoard. Recorded on the PAS as ESS-1CFF0B.

Published in:

Williams, G. & Wise, P (2024) 'The Braintree Hoard of Edward The Confessor, Harold II and Byzantine Coins' British Numismatic Journal, Volume 94, pg. 78 and 85 - no 115 (This coin illustrated).

The hoard was discovered by 2 detectorists in the Braintree area of Essex during the summer of 2019. It consisted of 145 coins of Edward the Confessor and Harold II, with the interesting addition of two stray Byzantine coins. The coins were found scattered over an area of approximately 30m2 of cultivated field, all within the top 4-5 inches of the plough soil.

There were a number of mints represented, including Colchester, Ipswich, Cambridge, Norwich, York, Sudbury and London. With the absence of coins of William I, it had a likely deposition date during the troubled times of 1066.

See also:

Pagan, Hugh E. (1990) ‘The coinage of Harold II’ in ‘Studies in Late Anglo Saxon Coinage. In memory of Bror Emil Hildebrand’ Jonsson, Kenneth Stockholm. pg. 177-205