A New Variety of Light Coinage Henry IV Halfpenny – Alex Bliss

The halfpence of Henry IV are divided into two broad issues: a ‘heavy’ coinage struck for the mainstay of the reign, and a ‘light’ coinage of lower weight standard ordered in 1411 but produced only from 1412 onwards. Of the ‘light’ coinage, fewer than twenty examples were thought to be known by Withers – though more have been brought to attention in recent years thanks to the efforts of metal detectorists. This note describes a new variety of Withers type 3 recently discovered near Cambridge, displaying a different obverse legend to those listed in the relevant ‘small change’ guide.