A Die Study of Charles I Shillings – mm Heart – Gary Oddie

The previous two notes identified a counterfeit Charles I shilling, of type 1b2 mintmark Heart. The quality suggested it was cast from a genuine coin, and so the search began to identify dies of this scarce issue and mintmark. Ultimately the counterfeit was found to be a die duplicate of Brooker 434. The die study has been extended to look at 34 coins, with mintmark Heart, from 14 obverse and 16 reverse dies. The results are presented here.

An Unusual Counterfeit Charles I 1b2 Shilling, mm Heart – Gary Oddie

This note presents a detailed analysis of a recently acquired Charles I shilling. It’s weight was suspiciously low and the colour not quite right. XRF analysis reveals a low silver content and the density confirms the alloy to be almost pure copper. Apart from the curious alloy it is an exceptional cast copy of a coin that is a die duplicate of Brooker 434. Unless any compelling evidence of more recent manufacture is found, e.g., the discovery of more identical specimens or further analysis reveals unexpected metals, I am inclined to consider this to be of near-contemporary manufacture. Also see:

A Token of Appreciation for a Jacobean Hoard – Gary Oddie

In August 1847 a hoard of silver coins was found by workmen digging a foundation at Deighton, four miles south of York. The coins ranged from the reign of Mary to James I, with the latest datable to 1613. Some of the coins were donated to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society and are now in York Museum. The rest were returned to the landowner, Lord Wenlock.A silver tankard was made, with several of the coins mounted on the outside, and presented to the finder. The location of the tankard was unknown until it appeared at auction in 2014 when it was sold along with a silver salver, also mounted with silver coins. From the weights of the tankard and salver, it is speculated that the hoard was melted to provide the silver.

The Last Galley Halfpenny – Joshua Cattermole

The topic of the Galley Halfpence, the circulation of the Venetian Soldino in England, has a history spanning nearly 150 years, split into three incursions between the early 15th and early 16th centuries. The end of the importation of Soldini is quite murky, and oft forgotten these days, along with much of the subject of Soldini. However, the recent discovery of a rare Soldino helps to shine light onto the latter period of Anglo-Venetian trade relations, and the end of the state-sponsored trading fleets from Venice to England, and how the very last Soldino type to be imported into England helps to tell this little-known tale.