Name

King John or Henry II Penny

Price

$1.00

Brief Description

Dates of Mintage 1205-1216
Represented Worth: 1 penny sterling

Extended Description

Replica John penny cast from lead free pewter.  King John reigned for a tumultuous seventeen-year period from 1199 to 1216, during which England drifted through internecine warfare for the English kingship. The coin is 18mm side to side, and 1mm thick. It reads: hENRICUS REX on the obverse, with a portrait in the center. It reads: SIMON ON CAN on the reverse, with the short cross and pellets typical of early Plantagenet coinage in the center. It is of note that these are the last "short cross" type--all coinages following use the "long cross" which spans from side to side as a means of defeating "clipping."

Note: Because King John (for some reason) minted coins reading hENRICUS REX (possibly even just continuing to use his father's dies), and because the portrait is not very different from that on coins issued by his father, Henry II, these coins can also be pressed into service by those desiring a mid to late 12th century penny replica.  enry II of England (of Lion in Winter fame), reigned from 1154 to 1189.