S1325, Richard of Ilchester? -

Stephen (1135-54), Penny, 0.64g, local and irregular issue of the Civil War, variety of the Cross Moline (Watford) type, blundered legend around crude bust left, holding sceptre in front, cross in field, rev. [...] ON IVEL, cross moline, lis in angles (cf. Mack 194-195 for type; BMC -; SCBI -; N.884 and footnote 414; S.1325), very fine, the only recorded example.  Images and selected text reproduced by kind permission of Spink and Son Ltd, London, auction 18048 - The Williams Collection Part III - Norman Coins, lot 445.    Provenance:  CNG auction 108, 3 January 2012, lot 1898, Marshall Faintich collection, William Conte collection, Beauvais hoard, Glendining, 4 November 1987, lot 159.

North 884, footnote 414, 'Another crude coin with bust left has a cross before the sceptre and reads ...ONIVEL'

'The irregular and unique coin is most likely a baronial issue, with a crude bust left and cross on the obverse, and a cross moline reverse. It is of good silver, but extremely light, weighing only 0.63g. A partial reverse legend suggests that the coin may have been struck at Ilchester. North states only 'on ivel' in his footnote, but close inspection suggests additional partial letters ... ae...wa...on ivel.
It is interesting to note that Richard of Ilchester was mentioned several times as 'scriptor curie' in the pipe roll of Henry II in the second year of his reign, indicating a close association to the new king soon after the end of the anarchy. Richard of Ilchester served the new king in several aspects, and was baron of the exchequer from at least 1165. If this unique penny is indeed from Ilchester, then perhaps it was a baronial piece struck by Richard as a supporter of the Angevin cause during the anarchy.' Marshall Faintich, 'A Few Unusual Coins of the Anarchy' in SNC October 2005, p.305