English History from common coin to scarce medal. First the common coin: The coin you're going to learn about came into existance during 1066, the year England's reigning Monarch, Edward the Confessor died (January 1066) and was replaced by his son, Harold II (Harold Godwinson or Harold Godwinesson) on January 6, 1066. Harold was killed at the Battle of Hastings on October 14,1066 and on the 15th of October 1066 Edgar the Atheling was elected King, but was never crowned King. He was deposed on December 17, 1066. William, a once-removed cousin of Edward the Confessor, was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066, and is today known as William the Conqueror, or William II. In those early days of Merrie Olde England small denomination coins were always in short supply, so, many coins were struck bearing short or long crosses on their reverses so peasants and business owners could cut the coins into quarters and halves. When you view these coins you'll notice blank spaces between the cross's double borders. There are two reasons for this: 1). To make it easy to cut apart. 2). To assure proper sizing of the quarter and half cuts. Here'a a photo of a long cross English Penny minted during Edward the Confessor's reign. It was struck circa 1059-1062 (coinarchives photo) Click photo for enlargement: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=2052&Val=4d2cae4185335fe22689d2fa3deade2d Here's another long cross English Penny, from a much earlier period in England's numismatic history (coinarchives.com photo): Aethelred (978-1016) Struck Circa 997-1003: click photo for enlargement: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=1803&Val=6de74da329aa94801809f865cf1fbc93 In an attempt to make halving and quartering coins easier, during 1066 a new idea in numismatics was born; a coin was struck in the shape of a Four Leaf Clover. All one had to do was to pull off a leaf (one for a quarter, two for a half, etc). Unfortunately I couldn't find a photo. However, while trying to locate photos, I found an interesting medal made of white metal and measuring 38.22mm which was struck in 1820. This Kings of England Medal was a product of Thomas Halliday. The Obverse of the Medal features King George IV's head in a small circle with glory-like radients emanating from the circle listing the names of England's rulers from William I through to George IV. The reverse features (in a little circle) the words TABLES OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND HALLIDAY INV. E. FECIT with glory-like radients listing the rulers from Britons through Harold II 1065 Both lists (obverse & reverse) run counterclockwise begining to the left of the arrow (coinarchives.com photo). Click photo for enlargement: http://www.coinarchives.com/w/lotvi...Lot=1179&Val=0adf32b5318acb24e79e61cb74b19e5a Did you enjoy? Clinker
Very cool. I really like the medal, I had never heard of something like that before. I have read somewhat on the early English silver pennys but those are both exceptional examples from very important rulers. I find it amazing that such historical coins can sell for so little compared with some of the Morgans and other US stuff that is a thosand years newer. Yes, $700 is not little by any means, and will always be out of my reach, but still!
Interesting post. I'd never heard of the clover shaped coins before. I wonder how many have survived. Thanks for taking the time to share this.
1066 was a tough year for English kings. I have an Edward the Confessor and a William the Conqueror, but I still need a Harold II and and Edgar Atheling. Those two and two more and I'll have a set of all the monarchs from 955 to date.
