COIN HOARD

2011 T225

I have examined a group of coins reported found in Worcestershire. All the coins are silver and are from the Long Cross coinage of King Henry III, issued 1247-1279, with one related coin of Henry's similar Irish coinage, which also circulated in England. Some of the coins are whole pennies (the only coin then being produced); some are deliberately cut fractions (halfpennies or farthings) and some are broken fragments. There are nine whole or largely complete pennies, five cut halfpennies, 2 probable cut farthings and two uncertain fragments. A more detailed list accompanies this report, which includes the moneyer and mint details, the reverse legends and the weights of the coins..

All the coins are of good silver, the English and Irish coinages of Henry III being struck to a standard of over 90% fine metal. All of the coins would have been in currency together. The range of classes present suggests one group of material deposited probably in the 1260s or 70s.

Since the coins are of good silver and were probably deposited together on one occasion in the second quarter of the 13th century, it is my opinion that the find represents 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
14 May 2012

2011 T225

(Cut halfpennies and farthings are indicated with ½ or ¼; fragmentary coins are indicated with an asterisk; the number in brackets is the number on the packaging of the coins as delivered to the British Museum.)

English Long Cross Coinage (1247-79)
Class 3 (1248-50)
1. 3a-b Nicole mint uncertain NIC OLE [ ] 0.93* (11)
2. 3b Henri Oxford hEN RIO NO XON 1.45 (12)
3. 3c Nicole Canterbury NIC OLE ONC [ ] 1.32 (14)
4. 3 ½ Uncertain London [ ] ONL VN[ ] 0.46* (7)
5. 3 ¼? Nicole Uncertain NIC [ ] 0.3 (6)
Class 5 (1251-72)
6. 5a Davi London DAV ION LVN DEN 1.37 (10)
7. 5a Henry London hEN RIO NLV NDE 1.44 (2)
8. 5a ½ Henri London [ ] RIO NLV [ ] 0.56 (13)
9. 5a-b ¼ Uncertain London [ ] ONL [ ] 0.38 (3)
10. 5c Willem London WIL LEM ONL VND 1.43 (9)
11. 5d Henry London hEN RIO NLV NDE 1.32 (1)
12. 5g Robert Canterbury ROB ERT. ONC ANT 1.24 (4)
13. 5g Renaud London REN AVD ONL VND 1.28 (5)
14. 5g ½ Renaud London REN [ ] VND 0.59 (8)
15. 5g? ½ Uncertain London [ ] ONL [ ] 0.38* (16)
16-17. Uncertain fragments 0.15, 0.22 (6)

Irish Coinage (1247-52)
18. 2a ½ Davi Dublin DAV [ ] ELI 0.63 (15)

Dr Barrie J. Cook
Curator of Medieval and Early Modern Coinage
Department of Coins and Medals
British Museum
14 May 2012