The note summarises the extent of die studies carried out for the Short Cross coinage and shows that quite a large proportion of the coinage has been studied. It is hoped that the summary will help co-ordinate further research.
Author: BNS Blog Coordinator
The Forty-Shilling piece of James VI revisited – David Rampling
A rare Scottish Forty-Shilling piece of James VI, has recently featured on the ‘English hammered and early milled coin collectors’ group of Facebook. The coin is of interest for reasons briefly discussed in this article.
Another Short Cross die link between London and Canterbury in class VIII – Glenn Gittoes
In 1951 Elmore Jones exhibited two Short Cross pennies of class VIIIb from London and Canterbury both struck from the same die. This note publishes another die link between London and Canterbury in the same class.
BARBADOS – SOCIETY FOR ARTS – USEFUL ARTS PROMOTED – AN AWARD MEDAL – ‘ARE THERE ANY SURVIVORS?’ – Ken Eckardt
In July 1781 Mr Joshua Steele wrote to the Society at Adelphi in London informing that several Gentlemen of property and liberal education had formed a Society on the island of Barbados for the ‘Promotion of Useful Arts’. These included agriculture, manufacturing and innovation all in order to provide vocation training and employment to the poorer classes, both white and black, on the island. In May 1782 the Society decided to commission an Award Medal to be presented to deserving individuals contributing to the aims of the Society. Have any of these award medals survived?
An Unrecorded Variety for the Moneyer Ceolbald in Æthelred I of Northumbria’s Second Reign – A.G. Bliss
The moneyer Ceolbald has long been known as one of the most prolific moneyers in the coinage of Æthelred II of Northumbria’s second reign (c. 790-796), issuing a number of different die varieties. This note discusses a newly recognised sub-type, probably reflecting an error on part of the original die-sinker.
Unrecorded White Metal 18th Century Tokens? – Gary Oddie
This note presents a small group of previously unrecorded 18th century tokens struck in white metal. At first the dies appear to be original, however close inspection reveals that the dies have been created from a genuine token, displaying several characteristic flaws on all tokens from the same die. A metallurgical analysis of the new pieces along with some genuine white metal strikings listed in Dalton & Hamer suggests that the presence of bismuth in the genuine pieces and absence in the new pieces might be another differentiating characteristic. The five pieces presented here would seem to be part of a very large group which requires further investigation as to when and where they were made.
The Curious Case of Pillam FitzErembald – Igor Koturbash
Coins and Medallions of Lady Jane Grey – Gary Oddie
This note presents a brief review of the events leading up to the brief reign of Lady Jane Grey and the coins and medallions that have been made subsequently with her portrait. The pieces made and used in the 1986 Paramount film ‘Lady Jane’ are described, along with the various pieces created by the infamous coiner Edward Emery and finally some modern pieces issued as part of monarchs’ sets. Though she was never crowned, the paranumismatic items form an interesting group.
A Pattern for King John’s Irish Coinage – Glenn Gittoes
In 2000 an unusual coin was found muling a Short Cross obverse of class VIa1 with a previously unrecorded reverse die reading +IOHANNESOND. The note publishes the coin and suggests the coin could be a pattern for King John’s Irish REX coinage. The author also discusses documentary evidence that leads him to suggest revised dates for the REX coinage.
Cartouche Countermarks Revisited – Gary Oddie
This note will take another look at the Stuart hammered silver coins that have been countermarked with a cartouche containing various Roman numerals; III, VI, VII and VII above a horizontal I. The five previously published specimens are presented and discussed along with a further piece that might be attributed to this group. The weights of the pieces are found to correlate with the numeral in the countermark, but no plausible explanation for the issue has been found. All of the pieces should be considered as unsolved until new evidence appears.
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