2019-12-19 Thu

Henry II was duke of Normandy, count of Anjou, duke of Aquitaine, and king of England, who greatly expanded his Anglo French domains and strengthened the royal administration in England.

King Henry II was born in 1133 AD to Geoffrey of Anjou and Matilda, daughter of King Henry I of England. He is said to be the most effective monarchs to wear the English crown. By the age of 14, Henry actively involved in the efforts of his mother to claim the throne of England, then occupied by Stephen of Blois. Stephen agreed to a peace treaty after Henry’s military expedition to England in 1153, and Henry inherited the kingdom on Stephen's death a year later.

He was the first King of Plantagenet dynasty. Henry was an energetic and sometimes ruthless ruler, driven by a desire to restore the lands and privileges of his grandfather Henry I. He restored the royal administration in England, re-established hegemony over Wales and gained full control over his lands in Anjou, Maine and Touraine.

This silver penny of King Henry II belongs to the short-cross penny coinage. The obverse side of the silver penny depicts the bust of the King within a circle and legend reads “HENRICUS REX” which means ‘King Henry’. The reverse side depicts the short-cross within the dotted circle and outer legend reads the name of moneyer and mint “Oslac of Worcester”.

Image Source: Heritage Auctions