This note continues the die studies of James I shillings. Having found just two specimens from one pair of dies, it is a bit trivial, but this great rarity is included for completeness.
Author: BNS Blog Coordinator
An Early Lead Weight for Twelve Pence? – Gary Oddie
This note presents a lead object, found at Ewell in Surry in 1995, that found its way into the David Rogers collection of lead weights. With the design of an Edward I groat and weight corresponding to twelve pennyweights, it was catalogued as such.Revisiting the object revealed that the surface had deteriorated (turned to dust) whilst in storage and the note presents a possible method to conserve what remains of the surface using Paraloid B-72. Closer inspection reveals two small bumps on the reverse and thus the piece is now considered to be a lead brooch of the same period when the Edward I groats were being gilded and converted into brooches.
Henry VIII: A Possible Candidate for Archbishop Warham’s Mark? – Lee Stone
The Heworth 1812 Hoard: A Cold Case Reconsidered – Hugh Pagan
A fresh look at the Heworth hoard of 1812, a hoard of early nineteenth century forgeries purporting to be coins of the seventh century Northumbrian king Ecgfrith (670-685).
Edward IV Durham halfpennies: Some new examples? – Lee Stone
This article describes seven new examples of Edward IV Durham halfpennies discovered since 2004.
Another UK Merchant Countermark Find – Eric C. Hodge
Another new UK merchant countermark has been discovered. Not only is the countermark worthy of research but the counterfeit host too.
An Example of a Henry VI Annulet Issue York Penny from the Ecclesiastical Mint? – Lee Stone
The aim of this article is to help support the opinion of Lord Stewartby that the York pennies with the mullet and lis by the crown were minted during the Annulet Issue of Henry VI rather than Henry V. Reader comments are invited!
A Counterfeit 1928 Australian Shilling – Gary Oddie
This note will describe a very successful counterfeiting operation that took place in Australia in the early 1930s. The counterfeit shillings, dated 1928, were of such high quality that they could be deposited directly into banks, from where they made it into circulation. The quantities involved were so large that the banks noticed the accumulation in their vaults and an investigation began. The counterfeits were being manufactured in China from good silver and imported to Australia by a Sydney businessman, where they were exchanged for notes. The silver bullion prices at the time meant there would be a profit, not counting production and shipping costs, of about 9½d per shilling. Following the trial, three Chinese men and their families were asked to leave Australia and not to return.
A Die Study of Charles I Shillings – mm Heart – Gary Oddie
The previous two notes identified a counterfeit Charles I shilling, of type 1b2 mintmark Heart. The quality suggested it was cast from a genuine coin, and so the search began to identify dies of this scarce issue and mintmark. Ultimately the counterfeit was found to be a die duplicate of Brooker 434. The die study has been extended to look at 34 coins, with mintmark Heart, from 14 obverse and 16 reverse dies. The results are presented here.
Determining the Density of a Coin using Archimedes’ Principle – Gary Oddie
This note presents a simple method for determining the density of a coin using Archimedes principle. The Charles I counterfeit shilling mm Heart, presented in the previous blog, is used as an example. Once the density of the alloy is known it is possible to estimate the fineness of the silver and three methods are presented: mathematical, graphical and look-up table.
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