MEDIEVAL COIN HOARD

Unknown artist

All but one of the coins are silver issues of the rulers of England and Scotland, and were thus struck to the official fineness of the sterling standard: 92.5% fine metal. The remaining coin originated in the Spanish Netherlands and is also of good silver, 94% fine, slightly better than sterling.Summary of the hoardEdward VI: 1 shilling and 3 sixpencesMary I: 1 shillingElizabeth I: 59 shillings and 319 sixpencesJames I: 2 half-crowns, 60 shillings and 40 sixpencesCharles I: 17 half-crowns, 127 shillings and 56 sixpencesScottish coins of James I and Charles I: 1 30-shillings Scots and 2 12-shillings ScotsForeign coins: 1 half-ducaton of Philip IV, Spanish NetherlandsThe bulk of the coins present are issues of three monarchs, Elizabeth I and the first two Stuart kings of England, James I and Charles I. There are a few good silver coins of Elizabeth's predecessors Edward VI and Mary I. There are three coins from the still distinct Scottish coinage also present, but these belong to the issues produced after the accession of James I, when the two coinages were closely aligned and the denominations represented were equivalent to an English half-crown and 1-shilling pieces. Also present is a silver coin of Philip IV of Spain from the Netherlands, a feature of hoards in some areas deposited in about 1642-3, including Yorkshire.All these elements are generally consistent with what we know of English currency in the 1640s, the start of the English Civil War, a period from which there are many coin hoards. All of the groups of coins found have broadly this same profile and the whole assemblage is completely consistent as being a single group of coins deposited on one occasion, at the start of the 1640s. The latest coins present belong to the mint mark triangle-in-circle, in use 1641-3, across the time that the king left London in January 1642 and raised his standard at Nottingham on 22 August.The shilling of Edward VI has unusual features, it that the edge has been hammered into a broader than usual rim and the letter C has been stamped onto the portrait of the king. It is likely that this coin spent some time out of currency being used for some other purpose, probably a counter for use in gaming. Nevertheless, it has clearly been returned to currency, to be incorporated in this hoard of material.The contents of the separate groups, even those corresponding to different part of the pottery vessels, do not suggest that the whole group was anything other than a single, thoroughly mixed deposit. There is no indication that the group was added over time, instead it looks strongly as though it was withdrawn from use at a single point. It represents a particular level of the currency, the major silver denominations, and lacks any low denominations of high-value gold coins. This is entirely consistent with the silver dominated currency of the period and the many hoards that have been recorded from the 1640s.The coins found in the Bedale area can certainly be regarded a deposit made on a single occasion - their nature on its own would demonstrate this, but they were also found in two pots, which makes it absolutely clear. They are all of good silver. It is my opinion, therefore, that the find fulfils the criteria of treasure according to the terms of the Act.Dr Barrie J. CookCurator of Medieval and Early Modern CoinageDepartment of Coins and MedalsBritish Museum22 April 2010Two of the coins, catalogue numbers 1 and 689, were acquired by the British Museum. The remainder were disclaimed and returned to the finder.CATALOGUEENGLISH COINSEdward VIThird Period (1550-1553)1. Shilling Tun (1551-3) 5.98[Large C stamped on obverse; rim hammered in - used in games?]2-3. Sixpence Tun 2.87, 2.474. Sixpence York Pierced mullet (1552-3) 2.89Philip & Mary (1554-1558)5. Shilling English titles 1554/5 N1968 5.75Elizabeth I (1558-1603)Hammered coinageShilling6-17. Cross crosslet (1560-1) 5.8, 5.73, 5.72, 5.66, 5.62, 5.61, 5.59, 5.58, 5.34, 5.0, 4.54, 3.918-28. Martlet (1560-1) 5.94, 5.91, 5.89, 5.85, 5.82, 5.33, 4.86, 4.7, 4.67, 4.56, 4.5329-31. Bell (1582/3-83) 5.84, 5.76, 4.7132. A (1583-84/5) 4.9733-6. Escallop (1584/5-87) 5.94, 5.59, 5.07, 4.9137-41. Hand (1589/90-91/2) 6.06, 5.94, 5.81, 4.53, 4.2642-6. Tun (1591/2-94) 5.95, 5.92, 5.87, 5.81, 4.8847-52. Woolpack (1594-95/6) 6.03, 5.99, 5.89, 5.85, 5.62, 4.7753-5. Key (1595/6-97/8) 5.91, 5.75, 4.8756-9. 1 (1601-2) 5.81, 5.75, 5.72, 4.8260-4. 2 (1602-3) 5.87, 5.82, 5.75, 4.67, 5.56SixpencePheon (1561-5)65-79. 1561 2.9, 2.84, 2.78, 2.77, 2.74, 2.73, 2.72, 2.68, 2.55, 2.53, 2.48, 2.48, 2.43, 2.37, 2.1380-5. 1562 2.76, 2.7, 2.66, 2.44, 2.25, 2.0686-7. 1563 2.86 (pierced), 2.888-93. 1564 2.81, 2.79, 2.77, 2.21, 2.15, 2.1194. 1565 2.695-6. 156- 2.73, 2.66Rose (1565-65/6)97-104. 1565 2.86, 2.86, 2.64, 2.39, 2.37, 2.36, 2.11, 2.05105. 156- 2.73Uncertain mark106. 1566 2.49Portcullis (1565/6-66/7)107-13. 1566 2.82, 2.8, 2.77, 2.76, 2.75, 2.61, 2.58Lion (1566/7-67)114-17. 1566 2.72, 2.39, 2.36, 2.24118-23. 1567 2.82, 2.8, 2.79, 2.66, 2.31, 2.24Coronet (1567-70)124-40. 1567 2.95, 2.79, 2.77, 2.76, 2.61, 2.61, 2.61, 2.58, 2.56, 2.56, 2.51, 2.43, 2.43, 2.38, 2.32, 2.28, 2.28141-52. 1568 2.9, 2.87, 2.76, 2.71, 2.69*, 2.63, 2.61, 2.54, 2.49, 2.35, 2.14, 2.1153-70. 1569 2.88, 2.86, 2.77, 2.76, 2.74, 2.74, 2.66, 2.62, 2.6, 2.55, 2.52, 2.45, 2.44, 2.41, 2.36, 2.33, 2.05, 1.92171-2. 1570 2.58, 2.31Castle (1570-2)173-8. 1570 2.78, 2.66, 2.62, 2.38, 2.33, 2.21179-88. 1571 2.88, 2.75, 2.68, 2.68, 2.67, 2.6, 2.56, 2.56, 2.42, 2.2189-90. 157- 2.78, 2.57Ermine (1572-3)191-209. 1572 2.89, 2.86, 2.82, 2.82, 2.81, 2.78, 2.76, 2.72, 2.67, 2.67, 2.66, 2.63, 2.62, 2.56, 2.45, 2.43, 2.42, 2.21, 2.15210-11. 1572 (2 upside down) 2.8, 2.45212-17. 1573 2.82, 2.74, 2.64, 2.63, 2.45, 2.41Acorn (1573-4)218-23. 1573 2.91, 2.8, 2.73, 2.72, 2.6, 2.58224. 1574 2.93Eglantine (1574-8)225-36 1574 2.94, 2.91, 2.87, 2.85, 2.76, 2.68, 2.65, 2.6, 2.4, 2.27, 2.24, 2.11237-50. 1575 2.85, 2.81, 2.8, 2.78, 2.76, 2.76, 2.76, 2.74, 2.68, 2.65, 2.62, 2.62, 2.43, 2.28251. 1576 2.82252-3. 1577 (7 over 6) 2.91, 2.69254. 1578 (over 7) 2.72Plain cross (1578-80)255. 1577 (7 over 6), cross over eglantine on reverse 2.89256-67. 1578 2.95, 2.9, 2.88, 2.87, 2.83, 2.82, 2.8, 2.7, 2.7, 2.7, 2.56, 2.55268-70. 1579 2.86, 2.66, 2.16271-77. 1580 2.73, 2.7, 2.6, 2.55, 2.46, 2.4, 2.26278. 1580 (over 79) 2.72279. 15-- 2.8Long Cross (1580-1)280-7. 1580 2.85, 2.75, 2.72, 2.65, 2.64, 2.61, 2.45, 2.35288. 1581 2.76Sword (1581-82/3)289. 1581 2.25290-7. 1582 2.84, 2.77, 2.76, 2.68, 2.63, 2.59, 2.34, 2.31298. 158- 2.11Bell (1582/3-83)299. 1582 2.79300-8. 1583 2.91, 2.86, 2.83, 2.7, 2.54, 2.47, 2.42, 2.37, 2.33309. Uncertain, 1561-83 2.73A (1583-84/5)310-13. 1583 2.88, 2.78, 2.78, 2.49314-18. 1584 3.04, 2.81, 2.68, 2.64, 2.4Escallop (1584/5-87)319-22. 1585 2.78, 2.78, 2.71, 2.45323. 1586 2.67Crescent (1587-89/90)324-6. 1587 (7 over 6) 3.04, 2.64, 2.4327-8. 1587 2.9, 2.75329. 1588 2.04330-4. 1589 3.0, 2.92, 2.89, 2.64, 2.62Hand (1589/90-91/2)335-6. 1590 3.08, 2.35337-9. 1591 2.77, 2.45, 2.42340-2. 1592 2.88, 2.55, 2.37Tun (1591/2-94)343-8. 1592 2.99, 2.95, 2.88, 2.49, 2.46, 2.43349-55. 1593 3.0, 2.93, 2.91, 2.87, 2.82, 2.81, 2.7356-7. 1594 2.93, 2.84358. 159- 2.79Woolpack (1594-95/6)359-69. 1594 2.94, 2.88, 2.81, 2.77, 2.67, 2.64, 2.6, 2.57, 2.53, 2.47, 2.4370. 1595 3.02Key (1595/6-97/8)371-3. 1596 3.05, 2.64, 2.581 (1601-2)374. 1601 1.54375-7. 1602 2.73, 2.68, 2.412 (1602-3)378-82. 1602 2.81, 2.76, 2.75, 2.56, 2.4Milled CoinageSixpence Lis (1566/7-70)383. 1568 2.72James I (1603-25)First Coinage (1603-4)Shilling384-5. Thistle (1603-4) Bust 1 4.56, 4.54386-95. Bust 2 5.92, 5.84, 5.84, 5.72, 5.58, 5.43, 5.12, 4.9, 4.86, 4.86396-404. Lis (1604) Bust 2 5.95, 5.92, 5.79, 5.69*, 5.66, 5.53, 5.46, 4.92, 4.61Sixpence405-9. Thistle 1603 Bust 1 2.88, 2.8, 2.73, 2.48, 2.13410-12. 1603 Bust 2 2.9, 2.88, 2.8413. 1603 Bust unclear 2.42414-16. 1604 Bust 2 2.97, 2.95, 1.98417. 16-- Bust 2 2.79418-22. Lis 1604 Bust 2 2.92, 2.78, 2.67, 2.56, 2.51423-4. Unclear mark 1604 Bust 2 2.99, 2.66First/Second Coinage muleSixpence425. Thistle , Bust 1/ 2nd Coinage reverse, 1605 2.87Second Coinage (1604-19)Shilling426-35. Lis (1604-5) Bust 3 5.92, 5.78, 5.77, 5.73, 5.69, 5.67, 5.62, 5.48, 5.41, 4.31436-40. Rose (1605-6) Bust 3 5.75, 5.72, 5.54, 5.48 (ch 2.48), 4.76441-46. Bust 4 5.88, 5.79, 5.75, 4.99, 4.9, 4.42447. Unclear mark Bust 4 5.79448-51. Escallop (1606-7) Bust 4 5.8, 5.4, 5.06, 4.6452. Grapes (1607) Bust 4 5.86453-4. Coronet (1607-9) Bust 4 5.61, 5.26455. Bust 5 4.96Sixpence456-9. Lis 1604 Bust 3 2.85, 2.81, 2.51, 2.47460. 1605 Bust 3 2.96461-6. Rose 1605 Bust 3 2.96, 2.91, 2.78, 2.68, 2.55, 2.52467-9. Bust 4 2.89, 2.88, 2.32470. Grapes 1606 Bust 4 2.64471. Unclear mark 1606 Bust 4 2.72472. Coronet 1608 Bust 4 2.82473. Bell 1610 Bust 4 2.92Third Coinage (1619-25)Half-crown474. Thistle (1621-3) 14.93475. Lis (1623-4) 14.7Shilling476. Rose (1620-1) Bust 6 5.88477-9. Thistle Bust 6 5.99, 4.93, 4.77480-3. Lis Bust 6 5.87, 5.71, 5.47, 5.43484. Trefoil (1624) Bust 6 5.92Sixpence485. Lis 1624 Bust 6 2.75Charles I (1625-49)Half-crown486-7. Harp (1632-3) N2207 15.01, 13.84488. Portcullis (1633-4) 14.98489-90. Bell (1634-5) N2209 15.04, 14.26 491-93. Crown (1635-6) N2209 15.18, 14.95, 14.8494-6. Tun (1636-8) N2209 15.09, 14.89, 14.06497. Tun N2211 11.94498. Triangle (1639-40) N2211 12.57499. N2212 13.84500-1. Star (1640-1) N2211 15.04, 14.51502. Star/star over triangle N2214 15.21Shilling503-4. Lis (1625) N2216 5.88, 5.81505. Cross calvary (1625-6) N2218 5.91506. Castle (1627-8) N2220 5.83507. Anchor (1628-9) N2220 6.0508. Heart (1629-30) N2220 5.89509-10. Plume (1630-1) N2221 6.02, 5.91512-14. Rose (1631-2) N2221 5.93, 5.91, 5.06, 4.82515-22. Harp (1632-3) N2223 6.05, 5.95, 5.87, 5.85, 5.83, 5.8, 5.7, 5.22523. Harp (crown within inner circle) 5.99524-7. Portcullis N2223 5.97, 5.95, 5.94, 5.9528-36. Bell N2225 5.97, 5.94, 5.92, 5.91, 5.88, 5.83, 5.83, 5.58, 4.99537-50. Crown N2225 6.07, 6.05, 6.01, 5.96, 5.96, 5.95, 5.91, 5.89, 5.83, 5.79, 5.27, 5.04, 4.99, 4.86551-68. Tun N2225 6.14, 6.05, 6.03, 6.01, 6.0, 5.98, 5.97, 5.96, 5.9, 5.89, 5.88, 5.86, 5.82, 5.82, 5.78, 5.72, 5.45, 4.8569. Tun N2227 5.88570-1. Tun N2228 (small XII) 6.16**, 5.88572. Tun N2229 5.7573-81. Anchor N2229 6.01, 6.01, 5.98, 5.97, 5.92, 5.89, 5.75, 4.98, 4.44582. Triangle N2229 5.89583. Triangle N2230/1 5.98584. Triangle N2230/2 5.6585-607. Triangle N2231 6.21, 6.2, 6.16, 6.16, 6.13, 6.1, 6.1, 6.07, 6.06, 6.04, 6.02, 6.02, 6.0, 6.0, 5.98, 5.96, 5.96, 5.9, 5.9, 5.88, 5.87, 5.85, 4.86608-25. Star N2231 6.31, 6.11, 6.08, 6.06, 6.02, 5.99, 5.98, 5.98, 5.97, 5.95, 5.94, 5.93, 5.92, 5.71, 5.56, 5.36, 5.35, 5.11626-9. Triangle in circle (1641-3) N2231 6.33, 6.18, 6.12, 5.89Sixpence630. Plume (1630-1) N2238 2.42631-2. Harp N2240 3.01, 2.9633-6. Portcullis N2240 2.94, 2.9, 2.89, 2.54637-8. Bell N2241 2.92, 2.89639-50. Crown N2241 3.11, 3.08, 3.05, 3.04, 3.01, 3.0, 2.95, 2.95, 2.94, 2.92, 2.86, 2.66651-61. Tun N2241 2.97, 2.97, 2.93, 2.92, 2.9, 2.88, 2.85, 2.83, 2.75, 2.36, 2.32662. Tun N2242 2.89663-5. Tun N2243 3.02, 3.01, 2.98666-9. Anchor N2244 3.1, 2.99, 2.57, 2.56670-1. Anchor N2245 2.93, 2.5672-75. Triangle N2244 3.21, 3.08, 2.89, 2.88676-8. Triangle N2245 3.0, 2.93, 2.82679-82. Triangle N2246 3.02, 3.0, 3.0, 2.88683-84. Star N2246 3.1, 2.93685. Triangle in circle N2246 3.08SCOTTISH COINSJames VIAfter English accession686. 12-shillings Thistle S5505 5.69Charles IFirst Coinage (1625-34)687. 30-shillings thistle S5541 11.65Third Coinage (1637-42)688. 12-shillings I (Briot issue) S5558 5.8FOREIGN COINSpanish NetherlandsPhilip IV (1621-166)689. Half-ducaton Brabant, Brussels, 1636 16.27 H 328-3aDr Barrie J. CookCurator of Medieval and Early Modern CoinageDepartment of Coins and MedalsBritish Museum22 April 2010