This note describes the substantial Anglo-Saxon element from a hoard found in a Scandinavian country which was put through auctions held by the Baldwin firm in 1997 (and from which a further parcel was offered in the following year).
Author: BNS Blog Coordinator
Twelve Pearl Varieties of Jubilee Head Half Sovereigns – James D. Korp
A new variety of Jubilee Head gold half sovereign having only twelve pearls in the Queen’s necklace has been confirmed, and the first examples from the Royal Mint in London have been discovered. Based on size and position of the thirteenth pearl found on the vast majority of coins, it is proposed that this last pearl was not present on the master hub, but was individually punched onto each working die. On rare occasions this extra punch was accidentally neglected, resulting in coins displaying only twelve pearls in the necklace. Examples of twelve pearl varieties are reported for five of the eleven date/mint combinations of the Jubilee Head issue from 1887 to 1893, including 1887 proofs. Please click here to read the article.
A Study into Die Numbers Found on British Half Sovereigns in the Period 1863-1880, Part 1 1863-1869 – Brian Unsworth LLB
On reading Michael Marsh’s books on the Gold Half Sovereign. I decided some years ago tocommence an exercise to see what die numbers still existed and to see if the reason for theiradoption could be ascertained. The gold half sovereign denomination is an excellentdenomination to look at as the use of die numbers on half sovereigns occurred over thelongest period, that is 1863-1880 inclusive.
The missing denomination “Farthing” from Henry VI Restoration Issue – Simon Hall
Is this tiny coin really a newly discovered denomination for the London mint during the short restoration of Henry VI from October 1470 to April 1471?
An Unusual Thistle Bank 5/: – Tom Ward and Eric C. Hodge
Recently an unusual UK merchant countermarked dollar has been auctioned.What can we glean from its oddities?
A Possible Coin from the Collection of the Notorious Forger John White – Timothy Cook
In the eighteenth century, John White was a notorious figure known for making and dealing in forgeries of coins, antiquities, and genuine items. Some of these forgeries have survived to this day, as has his reputation for making them.
The ‘Sizewell C’ or ‘Near Leiston’ hoard: a summary – Alex Bliss, Richard Ambrose, Dr Adrian Marsden and Hugh Pagan
Excavation by Oxford Cotswold Archaeology near Leiston (Suffolk) in April 2023 resulted in the discovery of a small package manufactured from lead sheet. This had been buried at the junction of two field boundary ditches. Unwrapping of this material revealed that it enclosed a coin hoard of 321 coins buried in the early 1040’s, comprising 319 pennies and 2 cut halfpennies. The coins correspond to the reigns of Harold I, Harthacnut and Edward the Confessor. This note provides an initial summary record of the find.
The 1861 Lower Dunsforth Hoard – Hugh Pagan
This note discusses the evidence for the Lower Dunsforth hoard, 1861, and suggests that we should be cautious about supposing that it contained a coin or coins of Ceolwulf II of Mercia (874-c.879).
AN APPARENT BUT IMPROBABLE NEW MONEYER FOR HAROLD II – HUGH PAGAN AND PHILIP SHAW
The present note discusses a puzzling coin of Harold II ostensibly struck by a Lincoln moneyer ‘Riesennold’.
Presentation and Analysis of a Henry I Overstrike Penny – Lyle Curtis Molina
The purpose of this research note is to present a description and analysis of a Norman penny from the reign of Henry I, which exhibits a Type V overstruck upon a Type IV. While this overstrike does not challenge the currently accepted order of coins of Henry I’s reign, it may present unrecorded examples of Mint/Moneyer combinations for both the Type IV and Type V strikes.
BNS Research Blog 