I didn't pay very much for this piece, $20, but I wanted it because it is an example of a bit of history. Aside from the “gold pennies” that Henry III issued to pay his Mediterranean debts, only pennies were issued during his reign. If you needed to make change, this was your only option … cut a penny in half. So here is an early British half penny before there really were half pennies. Here is an example of a complete Henry III penny.
Nice! Since two days, I can add my own half penny of Henry III: Ruler: Henry III (1207-1272) Denomination: Halved penny, minted: England, Canterburry; 1216-1272 Obs: Head of Henry III; rev: Voided long cross. Weight: 0.67g; Ø:1.8cm
Sometimes here in the uk, metal detectorists will dig up quarter pennies, (I'm surprised the tradition lasted for centuries considering its the easiest way to drop money). Its where the coin denomination farthing (1/4 penny) comes from, as it is literally a feortha (fourth) of a penny.
Nice coins! Can't wait to get out on the fields and find some hammered's meself. Come on you combines!!
Harold II. OUCH!!!! That's a tough one. Herold II only ruled for nine months before he lost to William the Conqueror. His pennies are among the tough ones. It took me a while to find this one.
Sorry to revive this ancient thread but I just found it in the hunt for identifying my Henry III half penny. Kingdom of England Henry III | 1250-1256 CE London Mint | Moneyer Davi AR Half Pence | Type 5 0.58 grams | 9x19mm
I do not have a Henry III cut but here is a John with enough reverse legend to identify Walter on London. The half is John / Willelm .L . on London My Henry is whole and Jacob on Bristol (BRVST). Note both of the B's are ligate with the letter before them. IMHO not all fractions are created equal. I prefer lower grade coins to high grade that do not have the letters on flan needed to ID the moneyer. My quarter only has two letters but WA can only be Walter when you look up the choices and the half with the dots on either side of the L can only be Willelm. The other half of this coin in mint state still did not tell you which of the two Willelms it was not to mention that the portrait was all hair. Don't pay high prices for fractions especially those that can not be IDed easily.
BRITTAIN, Henry III. Denomination: AR Penny (phase III, class 3d1 (halved)), minted: England, Canterburry. Moneyer Nicole; 1250-1272 Obv: [+HENRI]CVS REX:[III] Crowned bust of Henry III Rev: [NIC OLE] OIC AIT voided long cross, three pellets in each quadrant Weight: 0.67g; Ø:18mm. Catalogue: S 1364A. Provenance: Ex private collection; acq.: 08-2019
Contrary to popular belief, the round half penny did not originate with Edward I's new coinage of 1279. We know of round half pennies being minted under Henry I and Henry III, though surviving examples are exceedingly rare. Here is one from Henry I minted in Sandwich. It's not my coin. Henry III minted both half pennies and farthings of the short cross variety. The farthings are extremely rare, with maybe 10 examples known. Here is a Henry III farthing that is not my coin. The coinage must have been well thought out and numerous because cut farthings and half pennies were declared to be demonitized in the 1220s. The massive amount of cut short cross and voided long cross pennies certainly indicates that the general public was not convinced to change their ways It's somewhat of a mystery why the round half penny and farthing didn't catch on when cutting of a full penny to make change was so common. A penny was still a sizable amount of money, roughly the daily wage of a laborer. There was also a pressing need for change too. I'll add a cut half penny of Henry I to this thread. This one is in my collection.
And just in case you didn't think that whole Tealby's were difficult enough to attribute correctly...
