Author: BNS Blog Coordinator

A true type Ia Edward I penny of Berwick with a double initial cross – Denis Martin

In August 2018 the BNS research blog published an article by the present author which described an unusual Edward I mule penny of the Berwick mint. The coin had a type Ia obverse with a double initial cross, coupled with a type IIa reverse. A very recent detector find has at last revealed a type Ia with a double initial cross obverse linked with a true Ia reverse. This is the only example known to the author. or… Click here for the 2018 article

EXPANDING CROSS/POINTED HELMET MULES : SIX NOW KNOWN – Hugh Pagan

Mules between coins of Edward the Confessor’s Expanding Cross and Pointed Helmet types, struck in succession to each other in the middle years of Edward’s reign, have historically been evidenced by four coins only. This article describes the recognition of a further two examples, one a cut-half.  Any readers aware of any more examples of this rare type are invited to contact the author via the comment section below.

Letter Regarding the Countermarking of the Base Testoons of Edward VI at Bedford – 16th October 1560 – Gary Oddie

This note presents a previously un-noticed letter sent to the Mayor and Burgesses of Bedford, dated 16th October 1560, regarding the countermarking of the base testoons of Edward VI with a portcullis or greyhound. Following a brief introduction to the state of the coinage and the countermarking campaign around the country, the full document is reproduced, along with a transcription. The document confirms that the town of Bedford received just one each of the portcullis and greyhound punches.  The Bedford document is very similar to one known for the city of Wells, but has a missing sentence when compared to a draft dated 10th October 1560 in The National Archives.

Unrecorded White Metal 18th Century Tokens – Part 3 – The DNW Forgery Cabinet – Gary Oddie

The previous two notes described several groups of white metal 18th Century Tokens that have all proved to be of later manufacture. Following their publication, thanks to Peter Preston-Morley, similar pieces from the DNW forgery cabinet were made available for study. Once again, close inspection of the surfaces and edges gives away the deception and the metallurgy allows the copies to be grouped as before: similar to the Baldwin’s basement group, almost pure tin, high tin (80-90%), tin (40-60%) to which is added a new group of four pieces with faint oblique edge milling and a high lead content group. All of the original envelopes and tickets are included to identify past ownership (both dealers and collectors) so that they are not used to create new additions to listings of the series.  Links for previous articles: Unrecorded White Metal 18th Century Tokens? Unrecorded White Metal 18th Century Tokens – Part 2

Henry III Long Cross Pennies – The Coinage of the Northampton Mint –  Class 2bi – Ian M Heavisides & Rob Page

There were three provincial mints that issued pennies of Class 2bi; Lincoln, Northampton and Winchester.  It appears that the class was short-lived, and that the issue of dies was limited.  We have taken each mint in turn and examined the dies known to exist, identifying these along with the corresponding reverse dies used with them. A recent article (Link) presented the class 2bi coins of Lincoln, and this article now moves on to Northampton, where there appear to be three obverse dies for Class 2bi. Included here are copious illustrations and some suggested means of die identification.