The finishing touches are just being made to a new book on Bedfordshire tokens etc. The net has been cast widely and a small group of boxed coins has been found issued by local councils and companies to celebrate Coronations and Jubilees. These are just ordinary coins in specially printed boxes. They were given to anyone aged 70 or over on the day of the event. Once separated from the box, this is just an ordinary coin and would be spent and the box discarded.This note will list those boxes known to the author, with the expectation that many more once existed.
Author: BNS Blog Coordinator
A New Die Pair for Edward III Berwick Pennies by G. O’Keefe, D. I. Greenhalgh & D. Martin
The extremely rare Edward III pennies of Berwick were described by Blunt in 1931 as class VIII and re-defined by Withers in 2006 as types 11a,b,c. The last of these,11c, had only been added to the corpus in 1999 by the discovery of a single example with a new obverse legend. This coin was described by Lord Stewartby as “unique” when it appeared in Part 4 of his sales at Spink in 2016. Now this only child has gained a sibling which, surprisingly, has lost its bear’s head!
A Henry V or VI York Penny Conundrum – Dave Greenhalgh
A research project on medieval pennies has solved a long standing question of Late Henry V pennies of York and their position within the series culminating in their re-positioning to the reign of Henry VI. Note that opening the document in an Ipad or some other devices may result is image issues; if this is the case then it is suggested you download the article and then open it. If there are any further problems please notify bnsresearchblog@gmail.com
Roderick Maingy Murchison 1830-1873 – Hugh Pagan
The collection of coins formed by Capt. Roderick Maingy Murchison (1830-1873), dispersed at two Sotheby sales in the mid 1860s, is one of the most prestigious in the British series, and the present note seeks to explain the development of Murchison’s collection in relation to what is known of his life and career.
The Obverse Die for the Macniven and Cameron Imitation Spade Guinea c.1970 – Gary Oddie
This note has been prompted by the recent analysis of the die used to strike the obverse of the Imitation Spade Guinea (ISG) produced for the bicentenary of the Macniven and Cameron company in 1970. In the 19th century the company used many ISGs to advertise its ranges of pen nibs. The note traces the history of the study of ISGs and where further information about the company can be found. XRF analysis shows the die to be made from a high Nickel-Chrome steel with most surfaces contaminated with traces of brass (Copper and Zinc) from the tokens being struck. The die face, however, shows maybe 3% brass impregnated into the surface. This is likely metal dust trapped within the surface scratches and damage in the top few microns or tens of microns at the most.
Unrecorded 17th Century Tokens From W.S. Lincoln & Son – Gary Oddie
The chance find of an old sales catalogue, from W.S. Lincoln and Son, dedicated to 17th century tokens, and listing 1006 pieces has resulted in this short note. The list must have been published sometime between 1889 (Williamson published) and 1932 (Lincoln business failed). The 27 pieces listed as ‘not in Williamson” have been investigated to see if they had been rediscovered by the time of Michael Dickinson’s publication in 1986. With much help from Nigel Clark and Michael Dickinson, the list was solved, to leave just three pieces that have not been seen or catalogued since. They are out there somewhere.
“So, how rare is my coin?” – Rob Page
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
An Unpublished Variety and Moneyer for the Romney Mint – Lindsay Hardcastle
Seventeenth Century Glasshouses – Gary Oddie
One of the main features of the seventeenth century token series, apart from its size, is the diversity of issuers and the potential for even a singular token to open up a window on people, trades and places that have been lost in the intervening years. A recent talk at the British Numismatic Society (Laura Burnett – April 2023) mentioned in passing the token issued at the Glasshouse at Calne in 1669 (Wilts W/D 35). This reminded me of some research I carried out over a decade ago into this token and seventeenth century glasshouses, which is revisited in this note.
A Die Study of James I Shillings – Second Issue, mm Mullet – Gary Oddie and Michael Thompson
This note continues the die studies of James I shillings, working backwards through the mintmarks of the second issue. Here the mintmark Mullet is presented – issued 9th May 1611 to 22nd May 1612.In keeping with the £9 11s 4d of silver at the Trial of the Pyx, this issue is over average rarity and 49 specimens have been found struck from 26 obverse and 32 reverse dies. The six obverse legends include a die sinkers’ error with IACOBVS D G MAG BRIT FRA ET HIB “R” REX. A second specimen confirms that the extra “R” is not caused by double striking.
