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Scottish Coins ~ Alexander II (1214-1249)
Alexander II maintained a peaceful, if not always trusting relationship with Henry III. In a move no doubt aimed at diplomacy between the two Kingdoms, he married Joan, a younger sister of Henry III in 1221, this marriage produced no children and ended with the death of Joan in 1238. He married Marie de Coucy the following year, and this marriage produced the future Alexander III in 1241. Numismatically this reign was similar to that of it's predecessors, that is coinage was only issued in Alexander II's name probably after the second half of the reign. This was likely due to the fact that during this time that in the minority of this monarch the barons of Scotland were actually ruling Scotland. It was not until ca. 1230-1235 that the first coins bearing Alexander II's name were issued. These coins differed little from those of William I's and in fact are quite similar. Despite this similarity they are considerably scarcer than their predecessors and are scarcely encountered. Mints were operated in Berwick and Roxburgh and the only denomination struck were pennies. Denominations used during this reign:SilverPenny or 1dCoinage from this reign is divided into two classes, that issued in the name of William I until ca. 1235, and then that issued in Alexander I's own regnal name beginning ca. 1235. The first issue closely follows that of William I's posthumous issues and only one type is presently identified with this issue. The portraits on the first coins were bearded, more closely resembling the latter coinages of Alexander II in his own name - but in the name of William I. These coins were minted in Roxburgh by moneyers Adam, Aimer, or Peris. The second phase of Alexander II's coinage began ca. 1235 with the issuance of coinage in his own name. The shortcross coinage continued, and there are four varieties of this coinage, with the monarch depicted crowned, uncrowned, with sceptre or without sceptre. Coins were minted in Berwick and Roxburgh. Collecting coins from this reignThis reign is surprisingly difficult to collect coins from, being in the middle of two reigns that issued many coins - notably the posthumous issues in William II's reign. This, despite the nearly 35 year reign of the monarch. A lot of this has to do with the fact that many of the coins minted during this reign actually are identified with William II's name, and are classified as such. Coins issued in Alexander II's name are significantly scarcer than any other Scottish coins save the reigns of Malcolm IV and Prince Henry. Collectible coins from this reign turn up in public auction very scantly, and are represented with a mere single example offered in the Dundee Sale in 1976. |
Page last updated on 5th August 2011 Года All pages and images copyright © David Parrish 1999 - 2011 Года
