Descartes

Thanks Rob, I did wonder if it was the same moneyer Saewine doing the rounds throughout the west country... it never even crossed my mind that it could be several generations of Saewines working as moneyers, but it makes perfect sense now. I had three generations of my family working as pavers in Lichfield during the 19th century - and incidentally they all had the same name. It initially confused me when I was working on my family tree, but I soon learned it wasn't uncommon for children to follow their own fathers into the same trades as young apprentices. Re - the five types: for some reason De S. Shortt missed out Aethelred's 1st small cross type and 2nd hand type so I'm not sure whether he was using an early classification that's now changed. I was initially concerned as the Aethelred penny I've just bought had an old ticket classifying it as a type IV (Long cross, Saewine on Wilton), which according to Shortt's table, Saewine didn't produce! (I've attached the ticket). I've often thought about the sacking of Wilton in 1003 when I'm sat in the cafe in Wilton over the Summer holidays, and how the moneyers relocated to Old Sarum (Salisbury) which was better fortified. I'd love to find out the exact location of the Wilton mint, but our library and local history museum can't shed any light on it, not like the nearby Salisbury mint, which is well documented. There's been some excellent papers and books written about some of England's mints, but not a great deal about Wilton.

Blimey! That does seem a little excessive ...I'm sorry but I wouldn't have paid over 200 quid for that specific coin.

Crazy to think it went for 700 GBP hammer price + costs!

Gosh! I have to say ... some of them do look quite convincing it must be terribly frustrating realising you've bought a fake/replica when you've spent a lot of money on it. There's definitely something to be said about reading up in your area of collecting before throwing big money into the rarer types and dates.

Hi, This Edward III coin is listed as minted in London which it obviously is'nt as the legend on the reverse starts with 'VILL...' Could Somebody tell me where it was minted as it's hard to make sense of the other letters, and it doesn't seem to match any of the mints I have listed for Edward III pennies. Thanks! Descartes

Thanks for checking too, Stu! I sure do appreciate all the sound advice and encouragement here on the forum

Hello guys, Please could I seek some advice on this lovely Edward I penny that I'd like purchase. It's a Durham mint penny. I'm trying to ID its correct type but I'm struggling. I think I've narrowed it down to the rather complex class 10, but can't narrow it down any further than that. Any advice please? Thanks, D.

Thanks, Stu! ... Yes, Steve's been keeping an eye out for decent Edward I pennies for me ... it's that Galata Guide with the museum quality coins that's to blame! I want my Edward penny collection to be as good. I'm still crap at classifying them though - thought my coin was a class 10 until Rob gave me some advice and told me it was a 3g!

I knabbed it before it got listed on the Bay ...

Thanks Peter!

Thanks Rob! you're fantastic!

Hi Rob, Here's the reverse. I think it's a quite a good strike for a Durham penny. I wish it was one of the rare long cross crosier Durham types

Thanks again, Stu. I definitely will be spending the winter swatting up on the Edward III series'. I've learned that the annual Spink isn't quite enough for identifying some of the pennies. I'm certainly going to focus on building up a better numismatic library this year!

Hi guys, I wanted to ask your advice about a coin I'm interested in. It's been incredibly difficult trying to find an Edward II penny in a good grade (well, one that's ascetically pleasing to me anyway). Finally found a good one on ebay for sale, but the face seems a bit odd. I've had a good thumb through my Galata guide to the pennies of Edward I & II, but none of the faces match, especially the faces for class 12 types (which is what the coin is listed as). Does this coin look OK for a typical Edward II penny? I'd like to place a bid but wanted to check first as it look a bit unusual! D.

Hi Rob, Interestingly, I just bought my first Saxon coin yesterday! It was an impulse buy as I've always wanted a coin from the mint of my local town, Wilton. It's an Aethelred II long cross penny (moneyer: Saewine on Wilton). It's more than I usually feel comfortable spending on a coin, but I have it now, and I'm very pleased. Other than a few peck marks on the reverse, and traces of a bend, it's OK. I've attached a photo of both sides. I love how they were still using Anglo Saxon lettering on the legends with letters like þ for 'w' and and a D for 'th'

Thanks for the info, Stu. I'm still getting to grips with my classifications, but I'm really enjoying my research into the world of hammered coins. The problem with the Galata guide is that the specimens in the book are so beautiful and in such excellent condition, that I want my Edward I collection to be as good... and it's proving difficult to find such high quality coins in all the classes. It will probably take me a life time! I'm focusing on the three Edwards, and trying to get one penny from each reign at the moment, and go from there, once I'm more confident with all the long cross & short cross pennies. With regards to literature and getting to grips with the Edward III pennies, I now have the three Christopher Wren books on order for my birthday and Christmas which will certainly entertain me for hours and hours during the winter months. I'd also eventually like to get my hands on the JJ North books, and Lord Stewartby's 'English Coins,' so I can confidently branch out now I'm totally addicted to collecting the hammered pennies.

Great find, Craigy!

Hi Stu, Could you tell me what type of Edward III penny it is? I thought it was a treaty period penny, but I've been looking at other treaty period pennies for sale, and it doesn't look like any of them!

Hi, Can anybody tell me why the busts of Charles II on his pennies face both left and right? I can't seem to find any info on the internet to explain it. Thanks, Descartes

Hi Stuart, here is the reverse. I asked for the correct image before I handed over my pennies. I suspected the original reverse image was incorrect on ebay, that's why I asked you fantastic people on the forum before I bought it. I also managed to put in a lower offer price which was accepted too

I snaffled it Stu ... if you mean the Edward III coin that is! Not sure who got the Henry III penny though. It appears that somebody bought quite a few Henry III pennies all at once from 'Hammered British Coins', as a whole bunch of Henry III are showing up in his recently sold tab on the website. PS - hope you had a good evening and aren't suffering too much today!

Crazy prices to pay for copies I agree. Having collected all the 50ps (inc xmas IOM and Gibraltar) it rather annoys me that I still have two gaps: the Kew Gardens 50p and the EC 1992-93 50p. I just can't bring myself to pay such inflated prices for these two coins (or even for the cheaper copies for that matter).

Happy birthday Coinery!

Thanks for the info Coinery! it doesn't show up on the psdetecting site of Edward III inscriptions: http://www.psdetecting.com/Inscriptions-EdwardIII-&-RichardII.html Is it a rare mint?

Hello forum members, I bought this little Edward I penny recently on flea-bay. Wanted to ask the class/type. It looks like a class 1d due to the large lettering, but looking through my Galata Guide to the infinitely confusing pennies of Edward I and Edward II, it looks like it could be one of the class 2 types too. I'm looking for some expert advice please. Thanks guys! Descartes.