The present note discusses a puzzling coin of Harold II ostensibly struck by a Lincoln moneyer ‘Riesennold’.
AN APPARENT BUT IMPROBABLE NEW MONEYER FOR HAROLD II – HUGH PAGAN AND PHILIP SHAW
The present note discusses a puzzling coin of Harold II ostensibly struck by a Lincoln moneyer ‘Riesennold’.
BNS Research Blog 
Hello,
My study of the few Anglo-Saxon coins in my collection has shown that there is repeated difficulty in engraving an S. sometimes it is on its side, sometimes a smudge. The fact that the name is here spelt with a G, might just be a way the moneyer developed to avoid this difficulty.
My feeling is a forger would take pains to correctly engrave an upright S.
Another possibility is that it is intended as a copy rather than a forgery, and the puzzling spelling is used to avoid confusion with an authentic coin. This might also account for the puzzling representation of the beard.
Perhaps you have already considered all the above.
Best wishes,
Rob Yellowhammer.
Sent from my iPhone