This week’s fresh listings (scroll
down):
This page is to be updated every
Tuesday and will contain all the latest Coin,
Medal & Token listings for that particular week.
Additions to www.HistoryInCoins.com
for week commencing Tuesday 6th December 2022
Previous Weeks’ Listings (scroll down this page for “This Week’s Listings”):
WMH-7613:
Norman ANGEVIN PARTY
Hammered Silver Halfpenny – Henry of Anjou.
**A coin of major historical significance**
Struck under the Empress Matilda’s Angevin
Party circa 1142-47 using an exceptionally well crafted pair of dies: the
obverse has Henry of Anjou facing right; crowned, whilst the reverse is based
on the Henry 1st final type 15 Quadrilateral on Cross Fleury type although the Cross Fleury
is more a Cross Pellet. Obverse: HEN[RICVS], reverse: +RAO[---ON---]IGE. This reverse is the reading taken directly
from the EMC / SCBI entry (EMC 2019.0360) – see here. I would suggest that the mint is, in fact, Gloucester – Mack 247 is a type 3 example of
this coin with a mint signature GLOE and GLO could possibly be this
reading. Recorded mints for Henry of
Anjou, this type, are Hereford, Gloucester, “CRST” and “CAO[--]”. I’m at a loss as to where EMC derives
Wallingford from, other than Wallingford was a beleagured
garrison which sent for Henry, from his home in France, in 1153, a date way in
advance of this coin. If the reader is
interested, all recorded Angevin mints are: Bristol, Gloucester, Sherbourne(?), Hereford, Malmesbury,
and “Uncertain” - Cirencester? The
moneyer on this coin (given by EMC as RADVLF, RAVLF or RAVL) is a previously
unrecorded moneyer; Gloucester Henry of Anjou was only ROBERT prior to this
coin. Mack 248-53,
Spink 1329, North 940/2. Empress Matilda’s eldest son, Henry of Anjou, Lived in France.
He came to England in 1147, aged 14, and 1149. The former was to do battle at Pevensey (he attacked Cricklade
& Bourton but both were abject failures and to
make a bad day at the office worse, his men deserted him), the latter was to be
knighted by his great uncle, David 1st of Scotland, at Carlisle.
In between times, he was fully occupied in fighting a war against Louis
VII, briefly taking time out to marry Eleanor of Aquitaine, the former wife of
Louis VII. Interesting
times. The chronology of coinage
is as follows: Empress Matilda coinage in hr name, 1139-42. Henry of Anjou very much replaced his mother
on coinage from 1142 with the profile types lasting until the death of Earl
Robert in 1147, after which Henry of Anjou adopted a front facing style to
match the Stephen regular type 2 coinage (voided cross
& stars, 1145-50). Post 1147, the
fortunes of the Angevin Party were at a low ebb and
very little, if any, coinage was issued.
A point of interest on this coin is the unusual placement of the regnal name, starting about 10 o’clock.
Cut coins were very much done so at the mint, not in the field,
obviously to generate small change where no round fractional coins
existed. This was the case right through
until the practise all but ceased under Edward 1st. It is extremely interesting to note that this
cut half has virtually 100% of the bust of Henry of Anjou remaining. Once the civil war was over and Henry II was
enthroned (Henry II was Henry of Anjou), the mint had little consideration as
to whether the king’s head was or was not on a cut half – indeed it is thought
that of the miniscule quantity of coinage put aside for “cutting” at the mint
post civil war, BOTH sides of individual whole coins were released into
circulation as halfpence. Prior to this,
it was definitely NOT the case – only carefully selected coins, with Henry’s
portrait favouring one side of the coin, were chosen and when cut, the side
without the portrait was immediately put back in the melting pot. This was to ensure that all coinage, even
smaller denominations held by peasants, bore the rightful monarch’s
portrait. It was basically the
forerunner to propaganda and advertising.
When you consider this, these cut halves represent a miniscule fraction
of all struck coinage and then whatever that miniscule percentage was, it was
immediately halved in size by only using one half of every cut coin. An excessively rare and
extraordinarily high grade example.
If this were a full coin, in this grade, it would be somewhat over
£10,000; probably more as it’s an unrecorded moneyer. It is common practice in Scandinavia to charge a straight 50% of the
value of a full coin on all cut half coins, even English coins. Don’t miss out on this one as there will be
no repeat. £3,375
WCJ-7614:
Mary Tudor
Silver De Passe Medal or Counter. Machine-pressed circa 1630. Issued as part of a set of
British monarchs from late Saxon through to Charles 1st. Fine cast by Simon Van de
Passe (died in 1647) to give the impression of
engraving. Examples of sets being
sold at auction: 1) Christies South
Kensington, 23.3.09, lot 166, sold for £5000, box + 26 counters, 2) Toovey's, 29.11.17, lot 410, sold for £7505 inc. premium,
box + 32 counters. The counters, in chronolgical order, are as follows Edward the Confessor
(1042-1066), Harold (1066), William I (1066-1087), William II (1087-1100),
Henry I (1100-1135), Stephen (1135-1154), Henry II (1154-1189), Richard I
(1189-1199), John (1199-1216), Henry III (1216-1272), Edward I (1272-1307),
Edward II (1307-1327), Edward III (1327-1377), Richard II (1377-1399), Henry IV
(1399-1413), Henry V (1413-1422), (Henry VI counter missing), Edward IV
(1461-1483), Edward V (1483-1483), Richard III (1483-1485), Henry VII
(1485-1509), Henry VIII (1509-1547), Edward VI (1547-1553), Mary I (1553-1558),
Elizabeth I (1558-1603), James I (1603-1625) and Charles I (1625-1649). The remaining counters are: Henry, Prince of
Wales, eldest son of James I (died in 1612). Elizabeth,
Princess of the Palatine of the Rhine, Grandaughter of James I and eldest daughter of Frederick V,
Elector Palatine.
Frederick V, Elector Palatine and King of Bohemia, 1619-1620. Charles Louis, 2nd son
of Frederick V. Philip II of Spain, husband to Queen Mary I. James,
Duke of York, 2nd son of Charles I, was styled Duke of York from birth in 1633
and became James II in 1685. Charles, Prince, probably commemorating the birth
of Charles I. The token reads "20th May 1630" but modern records say 29th
May 1630.
The discrepancy is probably due to whether the Julian or Gregorian calendar was
used. Anne, wife of James I and generally known as Anne of Denmark. This coin would definitely be Mary Tudor as
opposed to Queen Mary I; Mary Tudor was the younger surviving daughter of Henry
VII. She married King Louis XII of France and was sister to Henry VIII. This example sold with the original sale’s
ticket, priced at £125. Tudor de Passe examples are eagerly sought after. Rare. £185
WSC-7615:
1619 James VI
of Scotland Hammered Silver Six Shillings.
Tenth coinage, initial mark Thistle, Spink 5508. One of the rarer dates (the
Collection of the National Museum of Scotland - Sylloge
70 – contains only one example of this date) although none are easy, in any
grade. The National Museum of
Scotland’s collection is about as bad in grade as this coin, but then most
are. It was a terrible issue, but an
extremely rare issue. Ex Chris Comber
collection – Chris, a leading light in Tudor coinage, was one of the leading
collectors of this issue as a diversion from his main passion. I was fortunate enough to know him and even
to supply him occasionally with coinage for his collection, including Scottish
six shillings. £265
WMH-7606:
Excessively
rare Stephen Norman Kings (Struck under Prince Henry of Scotland) Hammered
Silver Penny. Cross Moline “Watford” B.M.C. 1 type, circa
1136-45. + [---] ON CAST – Newcastle mint. 1.33 grams, 20mm, 190 degree die
rotation. Struck in the 1140's under
Prince Henry of Scotland when Newcastle, and much of the North East of
England, was under Scottish rule – this is normally referenced by the see-saw
“ownership” of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Newcastle is one of the rarest Norman mint
towns and when you couple that with the Scottish Prince Henry angle, not to
mention the high grade, it elevates this coin higher
still. Even though the moneyer at the
time was obliged by law to state his name on the coin, he effectively got
around this by hitting the coin at an angle, thereby completely flattening his
name. There has been much speculation as
to whether this practise was accidental or not but whatever the truth, if I
were a moneyer in an area of conflict where the other side might easily regain power, I’d be doing my utmost to remain anonymous. I seem to recall reading of a moneyer who had
his hands chopped off in just this scenario.
The esteemed and highly respected Dr Martin Allen has the moneyer as
IOCE. My own opinion is that the moneyer
is more likely to be WILLEM as the spacing just doesn’t fit IOCE. Further, I personally do not believe that
this coin is a die pair to EMC/SCBI NUMBER:1200.0165: note the differences of
the reverse S of CAST and the obverse differences in the T of STIEFNE – the
coin for sale here has the T looking more like a stylised lombardic
Lis whilst the T on 1200.0165 looks very Roman. I could be wrong but regardless, I’m
certainly not wrong to raise the question and I’m sure Martin Allen would
actively encourage debate. All that
aside, this is an interesting coin in its own right by the contrasting styles
of lettering, obverse and reverse, although both the S’s are reversed,
something I wouldn’t have expected. An issue with a good percentage of recorded examples being from the
famous Pretwich Hoard of 1971. Six of all twelve recorded examples are cut
coins or poor grade. Very few examples
are held in private hands with this coin being one of the best grade examples
in that tiny cohort. One of the best
coins I’ve ever owned. £3,775
WCom-7610:
1652 Oliver
Cromwell’s Commonwealth Hammered Silver Sixpence. A most interesting coin
being 1652 over 1651, over 1649 in date.
Further, the 6 of the date appears to be a large 6 over a reversed
smaller 6, which I believe is unrecorded.
Further still, the right hand stop at the initial mark Sun is a small
pellet over a large pellet. The detailed
accompanying ticket, whilst mentioning none of this, does draw attention to the
D of ENGLAND being re-entered and off to one side. This at first glance appears to be simply
double striking but it’s actually not - if you look closely, the bottom D has a
bottom right curving serif whilst the uppermost D has a corresponding angular
serif. They are very different letter
D’s. Again, unrecorded
to my knowledge. 1652 is the year
where many more shillings and halfcrowns were issued compared to
sixpences. The coin itself has been bent
twice in antiquity, as so many were (often done with the teeth to gauge silver
content), and subsequently straightened out.
Attractively toned both sides. As I initially said, a most
interesting coin, not to mention grade.
£765
WI-7611:
Edward IV Rare
Mint / Rare Type Irish Hammered Silver Penny. Second reign, type 9
“Issues of the Ungoverned Mints”, circa 1470-77. Limerick mint.
This issue immediately preceded the Suns & Roses coinage of 1479. In this period, coinage was issued outside of
the governance of the Pale (Irish: An Pháil)
authorities, namely Limerick, Cork and Wexford.
The Pale was the parts of Ireland directly under the control of the
English government in the Late Middle Ages.
This issue was brought about by the Desmond Rebellion (the Desmond
Earldom stretched over much of Munster in southwest Ireland but also included
Limerick, Cork and Wexford), mainly because the Earl, who had adopted certain
Irish ways and customs, resented being told to be more English. Of the three Earldoms (Kildare, Ormond, and
Desmond), Desmond was the most remote from England’s control. Clear rosettes by the neck (they are rosettes
and not cinquefoils) and a clear mint signature. Spink 6383, Burns L-23, which is a type 23
with only 8 recorded examples. A very rare and historically significant coin. £545
WTH-7593:
1601 Elizabeth 1st
Hammered Silver Halfcrown. Seventh issue, Spink 2583.
The Edward VI crowns and halfcrowns – primarily just eye-catching big
coins to promote Edward’s restoration of the sterling standard (after Henry VIII’s escapades) in 1551 – didn’t really take off. The German thaler,
which was introduced actually before Elizabeth 1st was even born,
and the Spanish dollar or piece of eight, was brought to the attention of the
English mint towards the very end of the reign as a bullion coin for use with
the East India Company. Prior to 1600,
the company had used foreign coinage and then the testern
or Portcullis pieces for transportation of bullion, neither of which were well
received by the monarchy, particularly the latter as it did not bear the
queen’s portrait. The large flans of
these new crowns and halfcrowns were ideal for the engraver Charles Anthony to
display his ionic portrait which pleased the queen enormously compared to the
non portrait testerns. This was either luck or great foresight as
within 50 years, the halfcrown was the principle circulating coin in the
English economy! Extra image here using just a
camera phone but still in poor artificial light as there isn’t much natural
daylight outside right now! An
interesting die variation with the sceptre pointing to the I
of REGINA as opposed to the usual G. £2,995
WCom-7585:
1658 Oliver
Cromwell Milled Silver Shilling. A
single year issue; authorised by Cromwell in 1656, issued for circulation just
prior to Cromwell’s death on 3rd September 1658.
It’s the halfcrown that has an earlier 1656 date as well as 1658. Thomas Simon dies on Pierre Blondeau presses. A
remarkably small amount of silver was put aside for these milled coins, bearing
in mind it was Crowns, halfcrowns, shillings and a few sixpences all out of the
same bullion. You’ve only got to look at
the pitifully small amounts of 1657 - 1660 hammered silver issued to realise
that the country was virtually bankrupt at this point. A very rare coin. £2,245
This Week’s Listings:
WMH-7616:
Edward IV
Medieval Hammered Silver Penny.
First reign, heavy coinage, Durham mint, local dies, initial mark
Plain Cross, 1461-62, Spink 1988A.
Remarkably good grade for this poor issue and amazingly, full flan. I’ve never seen better in the hand. 
£225 RESERVED
WAu-7617:
James 1st
Hammered Gold Thistle Crown. Second
coinage, rarer initial mark overdate: obverse initial mark Cinquefoil (1613-15)
over Trefoil (1613); reverse initial mark Cinquefoil (1613-15). 2.01g, 12h. Spink 2628. Purchased from Patrick Finn’s list # 14
(1998) and remaining in that collection until November 2022 – see tickets. Very nice grade and
excellent provenance. £1,095 RESERVED
WSC-7618:
Alexander II (2nd)
Hammered Silver Voided Short Cross Penny.
Phase C, circa 1230-35: coinage in the name of Alexander’s father,
William the Lion: +: WILELMVS REX. For
some reason, possibly because Alexander II was very busy with insurrection,
invasions and intrigue throughout his reign, coinage retained William’s name
for some twenty years, although the portraits were Alexander II. Joint moneyers
working out of Roxburgh:
PERIS ADAM ON RO. 1.36g, 7h. Holmes & Lord Stewartby SCBI 81 var, B 6b var, Spink 5034. Rare coin. £745
WSC-7619:
Robert The Bruce Hammered Silver Medieval Penny. Robert 1st, 1306-29. Crowned head left, sceptre before, beaded
circles and legend surrounding, +:ROBERTVS: DEI: GRA:, rev. long cross pattee, pierced mullet of five points in each quarter,
beaded circles +SCO TOR Vm R EX, weight 1.35g (Burns
1, figure 225; Spink5076). One of two
star coins in the 2009
Drayton Hoard (the other was also a Robert Bruce that was sold through HistoryInCoins 9-6-22 for £2,200) – over a kilo of
predominantly English medieval pennies.
The hoard was likely deposited in 1353; the last issue to be found in
the hoard was an Edward III pre treaty York penny. Only 34 coins out of the many thousands were
Scottish. The British Museum undertook a cursory examination
and cleanup of the hoard but were unable to devote the
necessary resources and time for a full study.
The coins were thereby returned to the finder under the Treasure Act
where they were later sold. A direct
descendant of David 1st, Robert Bruce was crowned in 1306, on the back of ten
turbulent years with various armies moving backwards and forwards over Scotland.
In 1318, Bruce’s reign saw the gradual repossession of the kingdom,
partly from the English and partly from Scottish rivals. It is likely that no coinage was struck for
Robert Bruce until 1320. Only three
recorded dies, this one being Burns 1.
All Robert Bruce coinage is very rare but interestingly, although his
coinage basically copied that of Alexander III, whereas Alexander’s coinage is
often found VF or better, Robert Bruce’s coinage (on the rare occasions you do
actually see an example) invariably turns up worn or damaged / pierced. The all important provenance makes this coin
extremely significant and desirable. £1,750
WSC-7620:
1622 James 1st
Scottish Hammered Silver Six Shillings - Choice. Tenth coinage, type II, Edinburgh mint.
Initial mark Thistle, Spink 5508. An interesting issue in that it’s very easy
to mistake this for the English sixpence (indeed, bizarrely, the 1622 English
6d also has initial mark Thistle, which is the usual way people differentiate)
but if you look closely at the reverse shield, you’ll note the Scottish arms at
are in the 1st and 4th quarters. I’m not sure this has ever been illustrated
before but here’s a comparison of the reverse shields on James 1st
English sixpences and Scottish James VI six shillings. One point of caution: the 1605, 1606 and
1609/7 Scottish six shillings have the English coat of arms so the initial mark
is all you have to differentiate between the two! Burns 163 (fig. 986), SCBI 35 (Scottish)
1379, Spink 5508 (this coin illustrated as the Spink plate coin in the 2n
edition). The very last Scottish six
shillings date, made all the more interesting when you consider that there were
no issues in 1620 and 1621. Outstanding
provenance: ex Carlyon-Britton, ex Glendining’s (1957), ex R.C. Locket, ex Spnk
(1987), ex J.K.R. Murray, ex Spink (2006), ex LaRiviere,
ex Davvison’s (2009), ex Chris Comber. All
tickets shown here. The Collection of the National Museum of
Scotland listed in Sylloge 70 only has the following
dates in their collection: 1610, 1612, 1613 1615, 1617, 1618, 1619, 1622 and an
unlisted date of 1624, which gives you an idea as to the extreme rarity of ALL
Scottish six shillings. Further, none of
the museum coins come close to the grade of this piece and are mostly worn with
only the 1619 piece being better than the others and closer in grade to this
coin. There is currently a 1615 Scottish
six shillings for sale elsewhere, in a very similar grade to this coin but most
importantly, WITHOUT any of the impressive provenance of this coin, at
£4,500. This is such an impressive coin
in both rarity, grade and provenance. Choice. £2,950 RESERVED
