An interpretation of the Pacx, Pax and Paxs pennies
Simon Keynes
Three eleventh-century English coin types bear legends on the reverse field which are customarily interpreted as forms of Latin word pax , ‘peace’. The earliest is Pacx type Edward Confessor, takes its name from letters p-a-c-x distributed in four angles a cross (see fig. 2 ); second sole, Pax Harold II, has legend disposed horizontally within an inner circle b and finally there Paxs William I, annulets cross, each containing one letter paxs c ). issue conveying ‘peace’ could be, been, regarded political gesture arising specific circumstances, but it difficult for historian to understand why such should have been made three occasions eleventh century indicated by numismatic chronology – at beginning reigns Harold, again two decades after accession William.
Anglo-Saxon England