Medieval coins are, as the name might suggest, coins minted during the period known as the middle ages. When did this period started and how long it lasted is an area of contention. Most historians seem to agree that the medieval period started with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, but there’s heated debate on when exactly did it end. Was it when Christopher Columbus reached the shores of the American continent in 1492 A.D.? Or did it end when the Renaissance started? Or maybe it began when the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium) collapsed?
We will let you take your pick. We like to think that all of these factors have contributed to the sea change that occurred during this transitionary period. But since we are talking about coins, perhaps the most important transition (or at least the first step towards a very important transition) around this time to us, came about in 1561 A.D. As this is the date when the first milled coins were minted for the first time.
The Medieval coins presented below are divided into Medieval British Coins spanning between the time period of 476 A.D. (fall of the Western Roman Empire) and 1561 A.D., when the first Milled coin was made by a European Kingdom (England).
Edward I, also known as Edward Longshanks reigned from 1272 to 1307. Historians have conflicting opinions on his reign, many credit the Monarch for restoring royal authority after the reign of Henry III, establishing Parliament as a permanent institution, and reforming the law through statutes. Others condemn his brutal actions towards the Welsh and the Scots. In the reign of Edward I, the Silver Penny was the largest denomination made for circulation. And regardless of where you stand on Edward I's reign, we think that adding a Silver Penny coined by one of England's most well-known monarchs to your collection will certainly enrich it. Here we offer an Edward I Silver Penny from the London Mint in Very Good condition with a certificate of authenticity!
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.
In the middle of Henry III’s reign, in 1247, a new penny called the “Long Cross” Penny was struck. They were struck at 20 mints across the country, most being struck at London. The obverse has a portrait of the King, the reverse depicts a “Long Cross” extending to the edge of the coin, this allowed the mint (and possibly traders) to cut pennies into halves and quarters and used as change. We’re offering these fascinating medieval Cut Halfpennies in Fine condition at £32.50 each. Please Note: PHOTOGRAPHY IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COIN SUPPLIED
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.
Henry VI (1421–1471) was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471 and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. The only child of Henry V, he succeeded to the English throne at the age of eight months and succeeded to the French throne shortly afterwards. His early reign saw the pinnacle of English power in France, but by the time Henry was mature enough to rule in 1437 major setbacks were suffered in France, and England was in crisis. In contrast to his father, Henry VI is described as timid, shy and averse to war. By 1453, Calais was the only English-governed territory left in France. Henry’s domestic popularity declined as did his mental health, making him unable to rule. Civil war broke out in 1455, leading to a long period of conflict now known as the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487). Henry was deposed in 1461 by the King Edward IV of the House of York. Henry was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1465 before being restored to the throne in 1470. However, Edward IV retook power in 1471 and had Henry imprisoned at the Tower again, where he died – possibly under Edward’s instruction shortly after. We have on offer a group of nice silver groats from this important period in English history, they were struck at Calais and are in Good Fine grade. It’s the first time these have ever been offered as a feature so make the most of this opportunity.
