NORWAY. Eirik II Magnusson. 1280-1299. AR Penny (20mm, 1.07 g, 12h). Struck after 1285.

Triton XXIII – Session Four – World Coinage Part II, British Coinage and Medals, and Large Lots
Lot: 1195. Estimated: $ 5 000

World, Silver

Sold For $ 5 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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NORWAY. Eirik II Magnusson. 1280-1299. AR Penny (20mm, 1.07 g, 12h). Contemporary imitation. Struck after 1285. + ЄRIC MAGn : RЄX : nOSVЄG (sic), coat of arms / (CR)VX SCA IhV XPI, cross with lis in each quarter. Grierson, Coins of Medieval Europe 308 var.; Schive p. 73 and pl. IX, 24–6 var.; ABH 29.1 var. (all with correct obv. legend). Deeply toned. Near EF. Exceptional for issue Very rare.

From the Richard A. Jourdan Collection of Medieval European Coins. Ex Künker 175 (28 September 2010), lot 2554; Kalfarlien Hoard.

‘Norwegian coinage in the thirteenth century started from a lower point than that of most other countires in western Europe, but in the last decade of the century a serious attempt was made to bring it into line with the others.... Eric the Priest-Hater (1280-99) and Haakon V Magnusson (Duke 1280-99, King 1299-1319), who divided the kingdom between them [issued] both sterlings and small groats... Unfortunately we know nothing of the artist responsible for these admirable but very short-lived coins.’ Grierson, p. 130-31.

The Kalfarlien Hoard, discovered by road construction workers in 1910, contained around 1800 coins, all pennies of Eirik II Magnusson that were struck from the same die pair. The manner in which they were struck, combined with the misspelling in the obverse legend, has led numismatists to consider the coins to be contemporary counterfeits. Nonetheless, these coins, from the time of Eirik II, constitute the majority of coins from his reign that are available on the market, though they are still very rare (1743 examples alson were given to the Oslo coin cabinet).

The final winners of all Triton XXIII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 14-15 January 2020. Triton XXIII – Session Four – World Coinage Part II, British Coinage and Medals, and Large Lots will be held Wednesday afternoon, 15 January 2020 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and in person at the public auction, 22.50% for all others.