In this article I bring together some of the distinguishing features of some Crux variants of Æthelred II. Some of these variants are hard to distinguish, so I have created a flow diagram that groups the coins by features that are shared in common. The article focuses on Crux, Early Transitional Crux, Late Transitional Crux, Small Crux and Intermediate Small Cross-Crux mules. This guide should aid people in identifying some of these coins. The descriptions of each coin type is not exhaustive, and variations will likely crop up that don’t always fit into these neat categories, but the key distinguishing features have been listed.
Author: BNS Blog Coordinator
Counterfeit Round Pound Coins (v) Loose Ends – Gary Oddie
In this fifth and final instalment some peripheral topics will be covered. Ranging from the mentions of counterfeit pound coins in the media, to publications, to the response of the establishment, to prosecutions, to counterfeits of the new dodecagonal pound. New data has been added to the table of known counterfeit designs, bringing the total to 122 muled designs and 30 counterfeits with the correct obverse for the reverse. This will not be comprehensive, and is not in any particular order, but hopefully will provide a good starting point should anyone wish to take the topic further.
Some Observations on the Class 6a2 Pennies of Edward I – Denis Martin
For many years it seemed that there was only one obverse die for the 6a2 sub-class of Edward I pennies. Few coins were known and, of these, one was a mule with a class 5 reverse. The author has kept track of new coins which have emerged in the last 25 years or so and has been able to notice another obverse die making two in all. The total number of coins that have been noted for this sub-class now stands at a minimum of twelve. Most of these are in private hands hopefully recognised for what they are.
A New Henry III Long Cross Coin of Robert from the London Mint – M. Shott
A fifth specimen has turned up of the very rare class 5g of London by the moneyer Robert. It is documented and discussed in the attached article.
The Banknotes issued by J. Wilkinson of Ipswich in 1796-7 – Gary Oddie
In the British Isles small denomination banknotes are quite unusual, a likely result of denominations of less than 20/- having been banned by Act of Parliament in 1775. The next 40 years did see a few provincial issues by banks and businesses with denominations ranging from 2d to 15/-. Based on Roger Outing’s catalogue (England and Wales, not counting skit notes) there are just 26 notes issued for 5/- or less and the number increases to 51 when notes for less than 20/- are added. This article was prompted by the acquisition of a One Shilling note issued by J. Wilkinson of St Clement St. in Ipswich in 1797 and brings together what I have found that has already been published. The conclusion is that the name John Wilkinson is a very challenging name to research and his address was in one of the poorest areas of the town.
Some Insights into Medieval Die Production and Die Life – Part 2 – Die cutting – Dave Greenhalgh
This is the second installment of a series of articles detailing insights into medieval die production based on my own work.
Counterfeit Round Pound Coins (iv) More Unusual Issues – Gary Oddie
In this fourth instalment several more unusual issues are presented, essentially a postscript to the second note. The first three pieces follow on the theme of materials and the final three look at unusual die/mould manufacturing techniques used particularly for brass counterfeits that were not covered previously. Earlier articles….
Counterfeit Round Pound Coins (iii) Brass Issues – G. Oddie
In this third instalment, the brass counterfeit round pounds will be presented. The data is based on two collections totalling 2,063 pieces. Amongst these are varieties with incorrect edges, 76 different mules and two different metal types. It is observed that the number of counterfeits of a particular date bears a close relationship to the mintage of genuine coins of that date.
Counterfeit Round Pound Coins (ii) Unusual Issues – G. Oddie
In the first part of this series of notes, the lead alloy counterfeit round pound coins were introduced. In this note some of the more unusual counterfeits will be described. Ranging from resin coated lead cores to impossible dates to an overstrike on a foreign coin, the pieces demonstrate the ingenuity and skill of the counterfeiters. Though the coins were circulating only a few years ago, all of the pieces presented here are now very rare.
Counterfeit Round Pound Coins (i) Lead Alloy Issues – G. Oddie
Until the introduction of the dodecagonal bimetallic pound coin in March 2017, the round pounds had suffered extensively at the hands of counterfeiters. The problem began almost immediately after their introduction in 1983. Of the 1.5 billion or so round pounds in circulation in 2016 it was estimated that 3% were counterfeit. Now that the coins are no longer circulating, and ceased to be legal tender in October 2017, this might be a useful time to make some observations about these counterfeits before they are forgotten and lost. The counterfeits fall into several groups and in this first article I will make some brief observations about the lead alloy issues which were typically produced between 1983 and 2006.
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