Last of the Saxon Kings
ANGLO-SAXON, Kings of All England. Harold II. 1066. AR Penny (19mm, 1.27 g, 11h). Wilton mint; Winus, moneyer. + HΛROLD REX ΛNG, crowned head left; scepter before / + PINVS ON PILTI, PAX across central field. SCBI -; cf. BMC 105-6; North 836; SCBC 1186. Good VF, toned. Very rare.
On the death of Edward the Confessor in early 1066, three claimants attempted to attain the throne. Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, was elected and crowned by Archbishop Aldred. However, two neighboring and more powerful rulers also sought the English throne: Duke William of Normandy, and King Harald Hardraada of Norway. Harald was the first to act, invading Northern England while the King was in the south, awaiting an invasion from Normandy. Learning of the Norwegian’s plans, Harold quickly rode north, gathering an army en route. On September 25, 1066, the English army thoroughly routed the invading Norwegians at the Battle of Stamford Bridge, securing Harold’s throne on one front.
Yet Harold Godwinson still had another claimant to contend with, and three days after the victory in Yorkshire Norman forces under Duke William landed at Pevensey. He proceeded to Hastings, where he built a castle and awaited the English king. On October 14, 1066 William and Harold finally met in the famous Battle of Hastings, resulting in Harold’s death and beginning the Norman conquest of England. William was crowned King of England by the same Archbishop Aldred on Christmas day 1066. The whole episode took less than a year.
