The period now known to us as the Anarchy (1135-1153) is interesting in terms of coinage – as people were constantly switching allegiances from Stephen to Matilda and Matilda to Stephen, there is evidence of both sides minting coins throughout England.
A recent discovery of a coin purse near Wymondham in Norfolk containing two coins dating to Henry II and III’s reigns, and ‘two pennies, three cut halfpennies and two cut quarters of pennies from Stephen’s reign’.
To read the full article on the BBC News, see link below:
King Stephen medieval penny hoard found near Wymondham – BBC News