Author: BNS Blog Coordinator

The Lombardic n in York pennies of Edward I Class 3f – Denis Martin

The Lombardic form of the letter n is spasmodically found on obverses of some early issues of Edward I. This article discusses the rare coins struck in York in class 3f from obverse dies produced locally. Both the Royal mint and the Archbishop’s mint produced such coins, the latter being much rarer. An attempt is made to update the situation regarding the corpus of such coins and the numbers of known dies. A peculiar feature of the Lombardic n, which does not seem to have been discussed before, is pointed out. 

Henry III (Posthumous), Class 7 Pennies from the London Mint – Rob Page

This is the first of a series of planned articles on class 7 pennies from the London mint and presents a case for class 7 production at the London mint commencing as late as the fourth quarter of 1277; the article also deals with an estimate of the number of coins and dies from the London moneyers Reginald de Cantuaria (Renaud) and Phelip de Cambio; later articles will document some observed varieties for each of these moneyers in turn. To extend the study of these coins the author would appreciate receiving images of any London class 7 coins of Renaud or Phelip that readers may have in their collections. Images may be emailed to robtpage@gmail.com

Charles I Shillings of the York Mint (i) Official Issues – Gary Oddie

This short note will revisit the shillings issued at the York mint during the civil war. The series has been comprehensively studied and published(1, 2).The dies were engraved by Nicholas Briot and the pieces were made using a roller or cylinder press. This results in a slight ovality and curved flan of some pieces and slight creasing of the metal when they were cut from the strip or subsequently straightened. Misalignment of the silver strip could also lead to coins with partial straight edges. Two pairs of rollers were manufactured, each with five dies engraved on their surface. Briot’s skill as an engraver means that it can be challenging to identify the exact die pair.  Many published illustrations make it difficult to distinguish between certain dies and errors have been found in some catalogues(3). The following pages will provide good illustrations of pieces made by every die pair and die combination. Whilst not original, it is hoped it will be useful.

Britain’s Deplorable Coinage – Not Fit For Purpose – Graham Birch.

The long term effects of inflation have left us with a debased coinage that is overdue for reform.  Our highest denomination circulation coin – the £2 piece – is no longer even capable of buying a copy of the Sunday Times or a Starbucks coffee.  Lower denominations are fast becoming functionally useless.  Rishi Sunak’s COVID-19 stimulus programme represents money printing on an unprecedented scale and this heaps further inflationary pressure into the system.  Contactless payments are on the rise and without some drastic action coin use may become obsolete.  What should the Royal Mint do?  Perhaps go back to basics rather than deluging us with yet more “collectible” and “commemorative” offerings. 

A New Variety of Light Coinage Henry IV Halfpenny – Alex Bliss

The halfpence of Henry IV are divided into two broad issues: a ‘heavy’ coinage struck for the mainstay of the reign, and a ‘light’ coinage of lower weight standard ordered in 1411 but produced only from 1412 onwards. Of the ‘light’ coinage, fewer than twenty examples were thought to be known by Withers – though more have been brought to attention in recent years thanks to the efforts of metal detectorists. This note describes a new variety of Withers type 3 recently discovered near Cambridge, displaying a different obverse legend to those listed in the relevant ‘small change’ guide.

A New Obverse Variety of Henry V Halfpenny for Withers Type 9 – Alex Bliss

‘Page 28 of the Galata ‘small change’ guide to halfpennies of Henry IV, V and VI currently lists different two obverse legends for Henry V type 9. Whereas the standard issue usually reads: +hENRIC REX ANGL, there is also a less common variety (9a) inscribed: +hENRC REX ANGLIE F. However, this article describes two newly-discovered examples representing an apparently unrecorded second variety of the main type (provisionally assigned 9b). On these two pieces, the obverse instead reads: +hENRIC REX ANGLIE.’

Bedwyn to (or from?) Watchet: A Remarkable Instance of Die Alteration on a Penny of Edward the Confessor – David Guest, With comments by Stewart Lyon

Instances of pennies in the late Anglo-Saxon period with altered mint signatures are exceedingly rare. This note discusses a Radiate Small Cross type penny of Edward the Confessor of Watchet that was struck from a reverse die showing clear signs of alteration to the mint name. The author argues that the die had first been cut for use at Bedwyn and then altered for use at Watchet. Stewart Lyon was asked to comment on the paper and has kindly supplied an alternative reading.

Coin Hoards

Of potential interest to metal detectorists, as well as numismatists, is a new section on the BNS website section which gives links to BNS papers on coin hoards.  These papers cover the whole British Isles and are sub-divided by county, so it is easy for one to find accounts of hoards from a particular region.  BNS online papers are available for papers published up to three years ago, and currently cover publications up to 2016; papers published in 2017 will soon be added to the online collection.   Visit the BNS Hoards Section  Also of interest is the developing BNS Coin Gallery which is constantly growing – it currently focuses on the period from the Iron Age through to end of the Stuarts, and currently shows mainly English coins, though it is planned this year to add a comprehensive range of Scottish and Irish specimens.  Visit the BNS Coin Gallery For anyone interested in joining the British Numismatic Society please note

read more Coin Hoards