Author: BNS Blog Coordinator

A Richard II Early Type IB Penny from York – Duncan Russell

In one of the last issues of Spinks Numismatic Circular (May 2011) I wrote a short Article on the subject of a further pair of Obverse and Reverse Dies used at York Mint for the early Type IB Pence of Richard II. In the light of yet another example coming into my possession, I thought it might be worthwhile reproducing the Article as a contribution to the BNS Research Blog to give the subject a potentially wider circulation with possibly a greater degree of permanence within the written record. Firstly, I reproduce the original Article, and have then added the additional coin, which is currently identified as part of the this die sequence. If readers of this Blog are aware of any further examples then please leave a comment/image below.

The Case of John Orme – Gary Oddie

The following note arose after a chance find of an engraving cut from a magazine with the caption “John Orme’s Case – Orme broke open his absent lodger’s door, when, on entering the room, he found a crucible for coining and a few base shillings”. With no other information to work with, the search began.   The story is traceable to original records, including several unexpected connections and a surprising twist. John Orme of Rainow in Cheshire was caught in possession of counterfeits, and counterfeiting equipment was found in his house. He was found guilty at the Chester Assizes in April 1784. He escaped the gallows twice and avoided the First Fleet of convict transportation to Botany Bay. He died in Rainow in 1805. 

A Modern Copy of an Edward VI Fine Shilling – Philip Mernick and Gary Oddie

Copies of low grade hammered silver coins are quite unusual and when they are released slowly, no suspicion is raised. When die/mould duplicates appear showing the same features the game is given away. This note presents details of an Edward VI fine shilling with i.m. y. It is now known from five different specimens all showing the same flan crease, damage, and die/mould flaws.

The Publications of Thomas Violet – Gary Oddie

Thomas Violet was a goldsmith and writer on trade. He published several books and tracts, especially during the Commonwealth. One of his works “The Mysteries of the Mint” (1653) provides the earliest printed reference to the coinage trials of 1651 between David Ramage and Peter Blondeau. The recent publication by Amos Tubbs “Thomas Violet, A sly and dangerous fellow” revealed a colourful story of an interesting character and cited 15 works authored by Violet. This note provides a brief introduction to Violet and tracks down a further 9 tracts and provides links to where almost all of them can be found online either as pdf or plain text copies. The British Library catalogue gives Thomas Violet as the author of “The Great Trappaner”, which was certainly not the case as it is a stinging attack on the man himself and his activities! It is hoped this bibliography will be of use to others working in this interesting period of numismatics and

read more The Publications of Thomas Violet – Gary Oddie

An Unlisted ‘Irish’ Medieval Jetton – A. G. Bliss

In 2017, the author was given an unusual jetton for recording on PAS. This jetton was particularly interesting, as its obverse face depicted a harp – a design unlisted in Mitchiner’s standard catalogue. Only one other parallel for this piece could be found, also recorded on the PAS. A third example appeared recently, offered for sale via an online auction site and reportedly found in Norfolk. This note serves to catalogue and discuss these interesting pieces, with the hope that more may emerge in the future. 

A Guide for Identifying Some Variants of the Crux Penny of Æthelred II – W.M.D. Castle

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.

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.