AR Penny

Struck: A.D. 1299 - 1300
Mint: Bury St. Edmunds
Size: 18mm
Weight: 1.36g
Die Axis: ~180°
Grade: F
Ref: Class 9b1

Obv: +EDW R ANGL DNShYB. Facing bust of Edward, star on breast.
Rev: VILL/SCIE/DMV/NDI. Long cross, three pellets in each angle.
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Edward I "Longshanks" was born on June 17 1239 and was the King of England from November 16 1272 until his death on July 7 1307. Edward is best remembered for his campaigns to quell uprisings in Wales and Scotland but his most significant accomplishments were in his legal and administrative reforms. Promoting the uniform administration of justice, codifying the legal system and making significant steps to work towards the goal of a constitutional government. Arguably, these reforms were for the most part self-serving but they did establish a positive template for the future of the English political landscape. There is much valid criticism of Edward but when assessed by the standards of his own age; his reign was a great one.

In 1277 he invaded Wales and defeated the Welsh leader Llywelyn ap Gruffyd. His ongoing involvement in the war with Scotland was not as successful. In September of 1297 the English lost Stirling Castle to a much smaller force led by William Wallace. Wallace's forces were later defeated in July of 1298 at Falkirk but the Scots were not subdued entirely. They began to avoid open battle preferring instead to raid in smaller groups. Wallace was betrayed by Sir John de Menteith and subsequently captured and executed on August 23 1305. In 1306 Robert the Bruce was crowned King of Scotland and began his own campaign to restore Scottish independence. in 1307, Edward moved north against Bruce but he developed dysentery en route and he died on the morning of July 7 1307.