Three separate arguments are presented which completely reject the hypothesis that onlytwelve pearls were included in the original design of the Jubilee Head gold half sovereignnecklace. Examination of the entire set of sixteen redesigned coin denominations shows that oneach and every one a string of pearls runs up to the edge of the neck, and then terminates witha final pearl positioned mainly over the empty field. This final pearl was obviously intended tovisually facilitate linking between the hanging pendant and the necklace. There is absolutely nopossibility that the final pearl found on essentially all half sovereigns struck at three differentmints over a seven year period was caused by a random die flaw or striking problem, sincequality control inspectors would never tolerate such an obvious and persistent defect. Athirteen pearl necklace is undoubtedly the normal configuration for the Jubilee Head halfsovereign, while a twelve pearl necklace is the extremely rare anomaly. Please click here to read the article.
Author: BNS Blog Coordinator
Walter Jonathan Andrew and his Resignation from the Numismatic Society of London – Hugh Pagan
This note identifies a review in the periodical The Reliquary as the first spark in the sequence of flash-points that led to the foundation of the British Numismatic Society in 1903.
A Study into Die Numbers Found on British Half Sovereigns in the Period 1863-1880, Part 2 1870-1875 – Brian Unsworth LLB
In Part 1, which covered the years 1863 to 1869, if you excluded the years 1863 and 1864, theremaining years follow a similar pattern with the die numbers starting at 1 each year andseemingly completing a range. After 1869 the die numbers used do not follow any pattern withdifferent types of half sovereign being minted in the same year, some bearing the same dienumber although they are different varieties of half sovereign. Using the Spink referencenumbers I will detail which coins appear in which years and the die numbers that have beenrecorded to date. All the different varieties will be fully explained after the details for the 1871die number half sovereigns have been given.
The 1997 Baldwin’s Auctions Parcels from a Scandinavian Hoard – Hugh Pagan
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).
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.
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