CNG 94, Lot: 1935. Estimate $2000. Sold for $2400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

NORMAN. William II Rufus. 1087-1100. AR Penny (21mm, 1.30 g, 12h). Cross pattée and fleury type (BMC IV). Sandwic (Sandwich) mint; Wulfweard, moneyer. Struck circa 1095-1098. + PILLEL(M R)EI, crowned facing bust, holding scepter in right hand / + PIILFPORD ON SI, cross fleury; in each angle, pile surmounted by pellet. SCBI –; BMC –; North 855; SCBC 1261. VF, minor ghosting in center. Very rare.

According to Martin Allen’s recent review of the mints and moneyers of the Norman kings (in BNJ 2012), Wulfweard is known at both Stamford and Sandwich, though only at the latter for this type. Typically the mint with this signature, SI, is given as Shrewsbury, but it is more likely that here the engraver failed to leave sufficient space on the die to engrave the final stroke of the A, such that the mint should read SII (for SA) on the coin (cf. BMC 272, of this moneyer at Sandwich with mint reading SIIN).