Edward I, Penny (London or Canterbury Mint) Very Good

Edward II also called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed in January 1327. Following the death of his father Edward “Longshanks”, Edward succeeded to the throne in 1307. The “Long Cross Penny” was the largest coin of the period and those of Edward II closely resemble those of his father. He adopted the same bust and legend. It takes a trained eye to spot differences in the lettering and the King's crown to spot a genuine Edward II. The pennies on offer here come in “Fine”. They are from London or Canterbury Mints, depending on availability. You have the crowned bust of the King on one side, under the name of Edward I. On the reverse you have CIVI TAS LONDON or CIVI TAS CANTOR, meaning “City of London (or Canterbury)”. This is the first time we have accumulated enough Edward II Pennies to offer you in almost three years, so get one while you can.

One of the earliest and least expensive English coins you can get is a Silver Penny of King Henry III. He reigned from 1216-1272 so that makes it between 700 and 800 years ago. The Silver Penny was the only denomination issued during his rule. You have a stylized portrait of the monarch on one side and a long cross on the other side. This long cross was so that you would have guidelines if you wanted to cut the coin in half, thus making two Halfpennies, or in Quarters thus making four Farthings. The Silver in the coin was good, that many were illegally exported and melted down. The excess money was the profit, but it was illegal to export these coins. We can offer them in Fine and we think that they are excellent value considering their age and history.

The First Crusade was declared in 1095 by Pope Urban II and its objective was to provide military support to Byzantine Emperor Alexios I against the Seljuk Turks, as well as reclaiming the "Holy Land" from Muslim rule. The Crusades started around 1095 and continued for nearly 200 years, during that time four different Crusades were made to retake Jerusalem. The Crusades in the Middle East ended when the city of Acre fell in 1291. These silver deniers or pennies were issued in the name of King Bohemond III (1163-1201), who in the summer of 1191, alongside Guy de Lusignan met Richard of England (Lion Heart) during the siege of Acre. Richard was part of the Third Crusade (1189–1192), an attempt by three European monarchs (including Richard of England) to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin. The coins on offer have a helmeted Crusader Knight on one side wearing chain-mail and were minted in Antioch (modern-day Turkey) which was captured in 1098 during the First Crusade. The legends read BOAMVNDVS on the obverse and ANTIOCHIA on the reverse and they grade Good Very Fine. These coins are now over 800 years old! Get a Crusader Silver coin for your collection while stock lasts...