Author: BNS Blog Coordinator

The First British Empire: Some Observations on the Coinage of Carausius AD 287 to 293 – Duncan Russell

This article provides a ‘whistle-stop’ examination of the coinage of the British usurper Carausius illustrating its crude beginnings and highlighting the probable use of ‘Artisans’ formerly producing the ‘Barbarous Radiates’ that filled the gap created by a dearth of Official Coinage in the 20+ years since the fall of the Gallo-Roman Empire in AD 273. That Carausius’ Administration succeeded in stabilising the money supply and improving the quality of the coinage is clearly a triumph of organisation, and is a suitable epitaph to an extraordinary individual.

Arthur Mangy, Goldsmith: Clipper and Counterfeiter? – Gary Oddie

This note is about a recently (re)discovered short article, from 1899, giving a full description of the trial of the Leeds goldsmith, Arthur Mangy, for counterfeiting. On a first read of the main text, something about the trial didn’t seem quite correct. A second read and working through the original footnotes revealed that the original authors also had reservations about the judicial process. Mangy was tried on the evidence of a single accomplice who had turned King’s evidence, but whose testimony was later discredited. The counterfeiting and clipping was taking place at the time of the Great Recoinage and Mangy was alleged to be buying clippings from full hammered coins and debasing the silver before striking counterfeit milled shillings of Charles II. During the trial there is evidence of attempted witness nobbling by the accused, as well as the controller of the York Mint being surreptitiously called in to act as a witness for the defence. Mangy was tried on

read more Arthur Mangy, Goldsmith: Clipper and Counterfeiter? – Gary Oddie

Palmers Green Hoard of Richard II Coins, 1911- Rob Page

In Thompson’s Inventory he gives information for two coin hoards found in 1911 in Palmers Green; his “Palmers Green #1” (Ref 247) is a well documented hoard, consisting mainly of Henry III long cross pennies, and is not in any doubt. However, his second hoard, “Palmers Green #2”, (Ref 248) is almost undocumented, and it is this one that is the subject of this very brief article.

Reconstructing a Hoard of Joseph Heath 17th C Tokens (Cambridge W/D 52) – Gary Oddie

At some point in the past, a hoard of Joseph Heath’s Cambridge tokens from 1667 must have been discovered and dispersed. This note presents an accumulation of 43 specimens and identifies three different die states. It is suggested that a typical batch of tokens supplied to a seventeenth century tradesman would consist of about 3,000 tokens, which could have been manufactured by a small team of moneyers using a single screw press in half a day.

A Die Study of James I Shillings – Third Issue, Sixth Bust, mm Trefoil – Gary Oddie

The three previous notes in this series have presented die studies for the third issue shillings with mintmarks Rose, Thistle and Lis. This note will finish off the third issue with a die study of the shillings with a trefoil mintmark. A total of 63 specimens have been noted from 36 obverse and 47 reverse dies and a statistical analysis suggests that as many again are yet to be discovered.  As the last mintmark of the reign, the trefoil continued to be used for a few months into the reign of Charles I and two Pyx trails were carried out on 7 July 1625, the first for coins struck whilst James I was alive and the second for posthumous issues. This note also identifies a group of dies that might be associated with the posthumous issues.  Extrapolating from the Rose, Thistle and Trefoil data allows an estimate to be made of the amount of silver at the previous Trial of the

read more A Die Study of James I Shillings – Third Issue, Sixth Bust, mm Trefoil – Gary Oddie

Revisiting the Case of Joseph Hunton – Silver Token Issuer and Last Man Hanged for Forgery – Gary Oddie

When originally conceived, this note had a very different title and form, but as the story of Joseph Hunton was uncovered in contemporary newspapers, it took a more serious turn and so is being given a separate article. This note presents the life, career and ultimate downfall of Joseph Hunton, a Quaker and very successful businessman. The original act of forgery of a bill of exchange, his attempt to escape, foiled by the weather and the police chase, his capture and high-profile trial and execution were all laid bare in the newspapers of the time. Though he had started with significant wealth, all of his properties and possessions were taken to pay his debts. Just over three years later an Act of Parliament would repeal the death penalty for such counterfeiting.

F.W. Wilkes, Great Colmore St., Birmingham – Gary Oddie

Many modern trade tokens are purely functional in nature and give insufficient details to allow conclusive attribution. Those with just names or initials can be challenging to research and require other corroborating information such as personal knowledge, a documented find or links with other tokens that include more details of the issuer, the use or the series. However, some tokens include more information that allows the issuer and his business to be traced more easily. This note presents one example of such a token.