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Scottish Coins ~ Prince Henry (1139-1152)
The English Civil War saw the involvement of David I of Scotland in favour of Matilda, in 1138 David I's forces were soundly defeated at the battle of Cowton Moor near Northallerton by an alliance of northern English barons. Despite this defeat, he continued to resist the forces of Stephen and Stephen having been worn down from fighting a two front war agreed to sign a treaty with David I recognising the latters claims to Northumberland. This earldom was shortly thereafter bestowed on his second son, Prince Henry whom was the heir to the Scottish throne. Prince Henry would continue to hold this earldom throughout the rest of his lifetime. His death in 1152 would catapult his son, Malcolm into being the heir of the throne of Scotland on the death of his grandfather, David I in 1154. This earldom had the benefit of it's mints at Carlisle, Corbridge and possibly Bamborough. This resulted in a coinage of pennies being struck in Henry's name and the legend Henricus Com, N Enci Con or translated as Henry, Count. These coins closely followed the design pattern of their English cousins and thus with their crude portraits and often blundered legends identification is very difficult. As notably very rare as David I's coinage is for modern collectors, this coinage is even rarer. I have not ever seen one of these listed in auction catalogs so pricing these is rather difficult. The coinage of Prince Henry presents an interesting situation in classification for collectors, as it technically by way of issue is English as it was issued in an Earldom regarded as English and for which Prince Henry offered fealty to King Stephen of England for. However, Prince Henry was the son and heir of King David I of Scotland so for this reason it is classified as a Scottish issue, because had he succeeded his father's reign he would have issued a Scottish coinage. |
Page last updated on 5th August 2011 Года All pages and images copyright © David Parrish 1999 - 2011 Года
