File:Medieval Coin, 3 half cut pennies of Stephen and John (FindID 483463).jpg

Find: Small Coin Hoard / Purse Loss
Date: Medieval
Date of discovery: December 2010
Circumstances of discovery: While searching with a metal detector

Description:
1. Silver 'cut' halfpenny of John (1199-1216 AD). Moneyer: Iohan, struck at an unknown mint, Class 5a or Class 5b (1204 -1207)
Obverse:
Crowned bust facing, crown lost due to cutting: beard formed of strokes sceptre divides inscription R / EX. Most diagnostic elements / factors are lost
h[ENRICVS] R_ EX
Reverse:
Coin divided by a voided short cross, in each divided quarter are four conjoined pellets.
IOHAN [ON ...]

Weight: 0.55 grams Diameter: 17.7mm Die Axis: 11 o'clock.
Reference: North 968-970

2. Silver 'cut' halfpenny of John (1199-1216 AD). Moneyer: Ricard, struck at an unknown mint, Class 5b1 (1205)
Obverse:
Crowned bust facing, crown formed by a horizontal band of pearls with central cross. Hair formed with pellets in curls.
hENRIC[VS R_ EX]
Reverse:
Coin divided by a voided short cross, in each divided quarter are four conjoined pellets. In the inscription the R has a flat top - diagnostic of sub class 5b1
RICARD [ON ...]

Weight: 0.57 grams Diameter: 18.7mm Die Axis: 8 o'clock.
Reference: North 970i

3. Silver 'cut' halfpenny of William I 'The Lion' of Scotland (1165-1214) Moneyer, Raul struck at the Roxburgh mint, Short Cross and Stars Coinage (1195-1214) Phase A (1195 c.1205)
Obverse:
Profile of crowned bust facing left, crown formed of pellets, sceptre in front - interrupting inscription between R and X, the E of REX is omitted.
W[ILLELM]VS R_X
Reverse:
Coin divided by a voided short cross, in each divided quarter is a six pointed star or mullet. At the end of the inscription are four pellets arranged in a saltire cross
RA[VL ON RO]CE

Weight: 0.61 grams Diameter: 19.7mm Die Axis: 2 o'clock.
Reference: Seaby 5027

Discussion and Dating:
Cut fractions (farthings - quarter pennies / halfpennies) of medieval coins are relatively common finds. They act in the medieval currency system as the ad hoc small change that is easily spent. The three examples described herein were stuck between 1204 and 1207 AD during the reign of the English monarch John (contemporary with the Scottish King William I). All the coins would have circulated as currency at the same time. The presence of a Scottish fraction is not unexpected it is of a similar sterling standard; a modern example of this phenomenon is the presence of bank notes issued by the Bank of Scotland within the English and Welsh (sterling) monetary system operated by the Bank of England.

The finder of this group reported these coins as a potential purse loss as they were found relatively close together with no other finds of similar date. However, it would also be possible that they represent separate losses made over a period of years, or indeed a decade or two, on a site that was active for a relatively short period across the second quarter of the 13th century. Both of these options are possible, and it is hard to see a reason to prefer one over the other.

Metal Content:
The coins have not been tested for their precious metal content; however, all of the coins will consist of silver of the sterling standard, i.e. over 90% fine metal consistent with the currency of the period.

References:
North J.J.: 1994: English Hammered Coinage Volume I Early Anglo-Saxon to Henry III c.600-1272 Third Edition (2000) Spink: London

Seaby P and Purvey F 1984: Standard catalogue of British Coins Volume 2 Coins of Scotland, Ireland and The Islands. Seaby: London

Wren CR : 1992. The Short Cross Coinage 1180-1247; Henry II - Henry III. An Illustrated Guide to Identification Plantagenet Books: Herne Bay

Peter Reavill
Finds Liaison Officer, Portable Antiquities Scheme
January 2012

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