The database behind the online MCHBI app (link) provides endless scope for statistical analyses. Below, I provide a link to a list of Medieval coins found in hoards deposited no later than 1544, the cut-off date for the MCHBI database. The list is sorted in decreasing frequency of occurrence, and the number of hoard coins per ruler is shown. There are some minor sub-divisions; for example, the Tealby coins of Henry II are listed separately from the Short Cross coins of the same ruler.
The list presents Medieval coins currently in the database, many of which now reside in museums and are therefore not available in the marketplace for collectors. The dataset has some issues. For example, if some coins are known to have been present in a hoard but we have no knowledge or estimate of the number, then these coins will not appear in the lists. The MCHBI hoard records are gradually being edited and improved, so this will be less of an issue in the future.
Please note that single coin finds are excluded, as they do not feature in MCHBI. Some coins will occur more frequently as single finds rather than in hoards, such as soldinos or “galley ha’pence”. Nevertheless, the list should prove interesting, and I will leave it to readers to interpret the data for themselves. I invite them to leave any comments or questions in the comments box below.
Please also note that to better understand the numbers, one may use the Advanced Search facility in MCHBI to look at hoards containing coins of a particular ruler.
The list will be revised from time to time, and the link below will provide access to the latest version.
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