Superb Hiberno-Norse Penny
IRELAND, Hiberno-Norse. Sihtric III Olafsson. Circa 995-1036. AR Penny (18mm, 1.22 g, 12h). Phase II coinage. Imitating Long Cross type of Æthelred II. Dublin mint; ‘Fiernein,’ moneyer. Struck circa 1015-1035. + ZIHTRC RE+ FYFL, draped bust left; three pellets on neck; cross pattée to right / + FIE RNE INΘ DIII, voided long cross, with pellet at centre and triple-crescent ends; pellets in quarters. SCBI –; SCBC 6122. Lightly toned. EF. Perfectly centred and bold.
The Hiberno-Norse coinage began in the late tenth century, when the Viking rulers of Dublin began to strike coins imitating the silver pennies of Aethelred II of England. Originally fairly accurate reproductions, faithful in style and bearing realistic legends, the series eventually degraded stylistically (Phase III), along with the weight and fineness of the silver, culminating with a series of bracteates, coins so thin that a design could only be impressed only one side.
