A late eighteenth century bound compilation of numismatic notes and ephemera in my possession contains illustrations of Celtic coins, along with a handwritten transcript of an accompanying text. The original of these inclusions is a 1773 publication by the notorious John White, of Newgate Street, London. The original publication is very rare, and not readily accessible. In this note I reproduce the coin images, and provide an internet link to the elusive text. White’s publication is of historic interest, and perhaps to some degree balances his tarnished reputation as a producer of counterfeit coins.
Author: BNS Blog Coordinator
British Coins and their links to the West African slave trade – Graham Birch
The topic that I address in my blog piece is to ask the question: “In the light of the current anti-racism protests, should numismatists be concerned about the obvious slave trading associations of certain British coins in their collections?”. I then go on to examine the origins of the metals which went into the “Elephant” and “Elephant & Castle” guineas (Royal African Company link) as well as the silver coins minted with SSC on the reverse (South Sea Company link).
Elias Neel Jersey Bank Token of 1812 – Hugh Pagan
This note explores the circumstances surrounding the manufacture of the Elias Neel Jersey Bank Token of 1812, seemingly known only from a single specimen of which the whereabouts cannot be traced today. It also discusses which of three Elias Neels living on the island of Jersey is most likely to have been the individual for whom the token was struck.
An Interesting Re-cut Penny Reverse Die for Early Edward II – D. I. Greenhalgh
This note concerns an early Edward II penny, of class 10c-f, crown 3, struck mid 1307 – 1309.
An Interesting “Fine Work” Shilling of Charles 1? – David Holt
A possible new type of Charles 1 ” Fine Work ” shilling has appeared in a recent auction and is assessed in this article.
Manville Type 115. Is it Genuine or Fake? – Tom Ward and Eric C. Hodge
Allocating an issuer for a merchant countermarked dollar, where only the issuer’s initials are present, will always be a complicated task. At the same time questions must be raised for the reasons to use initials, where a full name would assist with the acceptance and distribution of the countermarked coin. The example of the countermark J D over 5•6 is discussed at length in this article.
King John’s Pellets: Die-cutter Signatures? – Robert Page
Observations of the reverses of 48 King John pennies of the moneyer Roberd at Dublin has revealed the presence of pellets on many of the coins. This brief article illustrates the different varieties observed and speculates on their meaning. Reader comments and suggestions are encouraged, as are comments on additional pellet configurations, including those from other moneyers or denominations.
The Laxfield Hoard: Some puzzles explained but not yet resolved – Hugh Pagan
A discussion of the evidence for an intriguing early nineteenth century coin hoard from Laxfield, Suffolk, which may or not have had both a Carolingian denier component as well as an Anglo-Saxon element. The note also draws attention to the fact that the late Tony Merson possessed a parcel of Carolingian deniers which he believed to derive from the hoard in question.
Henry III – Long Cross Penny – A Challenging Piece – A striker’s foible or just an undetected error? – Ian M. Heavisides and Robert Page
An unusually thin and lightweight Henry III penny is described; the authors are hoping to receive reader suggestions as to what this coin may represent.
Correction of an Ownership Misconception – Tom Ward & Eric C. Hodge
It is easy to use information that has already been published, but wherever possible recourse to primary source documents is preferable. In the case of the Adelphi Cotton Works this has been proven with three business concerns being discovered with the same name. This in turn has led to confusion regarding ownership. Hopefully this article will clarify the position of the Twigg brothers regarding their involvement in the cotton trade during the period of the Industrial Revolution in Glasgow.
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