Obv: hEHRICUS REX TERCI - with HR ligated.
Obv:hEHRICUS REX TERCI - no apostrophe at end, HR & ER ligated. X type 2.
Notes: There were 6 Gloucester Ion 2b2 pennies in the Brussels Hoard; two being of this type, and four with IOH rather than ION.
Gloucester's importance was its strategic position in relation to South Wales. The crossing of the Severn controlled by the town was secured by a castle, which was rebuilt on a more substantial scale in the early 12th century. The proliferation of Gloucester's religious institutions and the attraction to it of a large Jewish community are among indications of the economic vitality of the town during the 12th and 13th centuries. Gloucester's trading connections with the smaller market towns of its region and its own local market area were among the diverse elements that provided its livelihood. It had an industrial base supplied in particular by ironworking, for which it was widely known at that period, and by clothmaking; it played a part in the trade of the river Severn and, mainly through Bristol, in overseas trade; and its control of the trade routes out of South Wales benefited it from before the time of the Edwardian conquest.
One of the early provincial mints, with production from class 2b2 through to 3c. Gloucester long cross pennies of Henry III are not uncommon, and there were 842 documented in the Brussels hoard. Moneyers active at Gloucester were John the son of Simon, Luke of Cornwall, Richard le Francois and Roger Lenveyse.