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COIN
Unique ID: BERK-A7A604
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
Post-Medieval silver coin: Shilling of Edward VI (North Ref: 1937). The coin has a flat band of silver, 1.65mm in depth, fitted around its circumference. This would have meant that the coin could not be used as tender; suggestions given for this have included that it was for use as a gaming counter including as a shuffleboard token or as a commemorative medal. The banding and coin have very similar discolouration patterns with some superficial black colouration. There are also some slight traces of orange brown coloration around the perimeter of the coin close to the banding - this is presumably due to whatever agent was employed in adhering the band to the coin.
BM Report: "I have examined a coin found at Towersey. It is a silver shilling of King Edward VI's Third Period (1550-3), initial mark Y (1550-1), from the London mint. In this period the government of Edward VI had ceased to issue debased silver and restored the traditional sterling standard (92.5% fine metal) to its new issues. As a result, coins of this issue were not affected by Elizabeth I's recoinage of the old debased money in 1560-1 and remained in currency long into the 17th century. Normally a single coin find is not eligible to be considered as Treasure. However, coins removed from currency and converted into items of jewellery are eligible thus to be considered and this coin appears to fall into a similar category. It has been augmented with a silver rim to permit it to fulfil some non-currency purpose and as a result it is significantly overweight: at 7.11g, it is well above the official weight for a shilling of 6g in the late 16th and 17th centuries: most shillings in regular use were significantly under 6g.
Notes:
As a result, it would not have survived in currency in its present state as a piece of money. The coin itself is quite worn, so it seems unlikely that the rim was there to act as a mount for jewellery purposes. The altered coin might have been intended to serve as a counter, since in some cases high-status sets of reckoning counters were made up by using numbers of actual silver coins in a silver cylinder or box - adding the rim might have both rendered the coins being used as distinctive and also made them better fitted to their container. Alternatively, the coin was altered to be set aside for use in a popular pastime, similar to shove-halfpenny, which is documented for the Tudor and Stuart periods - the utilisation of the broad and distinctive shillings of Edward VI in this game is specifically recorded. To summarise: the coin found at Towersey is of good silver. It has been augmented to give it a non-coin function and, as a result, is analogous to an item of coin jewellery or a precious-metal medal or counter. If this proposal is accepted, the Towersey find would, in my opinion, fulfil the criteria of Treasure, according to the terms of the Act.
Dr Barrie J. Cook Curator of Medieval and Early Modern Coinage Department of Coins and Medals British Museum 31 July 2007"
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: Thame Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Donated to museum by all parties, hence disclaimed as Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2007T320
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1549
Date to: Circa AD 1551
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 1.65 mm
Weight: 7.11 g
Diameter: 34.3 mm
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: 2007 T320
Treasure case number: 2007T320
Materials and construction
Primary material: Silver
Secondary material: Silver
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: Shilling
Ruler/issuer: Edward VI of England
Category: English coin early Modern 1489 - 1660
Obverse description: Crowned bust facing, rose to left and XII to right.
Obverse inscription: EDWARD.VI.D.G.AGL'FRA'Z:HIB
Reverse description: Long cross fourchee over royal shield.
Reverse inscription: POSVI.DEUM.ADVITOREM.MEVM':REX:
(I have made God my helper - Psalm 54:4)
Initial mark: Y (1549-51)
Degree of wear: Hardly worn: extremely fine
Coin references
No coin references available.
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: South Oxfordshire (District)
To be known as: Towersey CP
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: From a paper map
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
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