"A spurious Beeston two-shilling piece and a new Scarborough demonimation?"

[kal 22]

Prompted by Michael-Roos recent post - Nelson's article in the Connoisseur Magazine where the Beeston two-shilling piece is illustrated.  In the BNJ II Nelson describes this item in detail but adds "I cannot agree that this piece emanated from Beeston Castle, since the resemblance between it and the pieces usually attributed to that place is not sufficiently close to justify the supposition."  

Originally sold in the Henry Webb sale 1895, lot 206, described as "of the highest rarity and interest, enhanced by noting the impression is stamped in the bowl of a spoon of the period, as shown by the hallmark (Leopard's Head)".  Sold to Spink for 30 pounds and now resides in the ANS having passed through Murdoch, Brand and Lochett collections.

With regards to a new Scarborough denomination, in the Hunterian collection of civil war siege coins is a "two-shilling and fourpence" weighing 12.73 grams (where the first penny numeral is double struck).  I believe this is the same coin described in the Thoresby Museum Catalogue dated 1713.

Lot 367:

"This is plate money in the strictest notion, being part of a silver plate, with the rim upon it, an inch and a half long under the figure of a castle (I suppose that of Scarborough) II^s III^d being its weight."  Donated by Sharp.  This item sold as lot 199 to John White in the Whiston Bristow sale 5-7 March 1764.  This description goes some way in suggesting that the Hunter specimen is from the John Sharp cabinet and gifted some time after 1691, possibly when the Archbishop visited the Thoresby Museum in August 1696."