PAS Finds Archives - Detecting Finds

PAS Finds (w/e 14/06/24) – Edward VI shilling with portcullis

Paul — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 09:56:03 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS during the week ended 14 June 2024.

Featured Find

Edward VI shilling with portcullis counterstamp

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Period: Post-Medieval

Date found: 28/05/2024

Location: Breckland, Norfolk

A base silver shilling of Edward VI with a portcullis counterstamp on the obverse. The portcullis was added in the reign of Elizabeth I to revalue the coin to four pence.

Henry VIII – Debasement

Towards the end of Henry VIII’s reign, England found itself in financial difficulty. This had been caused by excessive spending on Henry’s lavish lifestyle and wars with France and Scotland. Henry had already sold off some of the Crown’s land and raised taxes but more money was still needed.

In May 1542, Henry ordered that the amount of silver and gold in the coinage be reduced and the previously unpopular Testoon be produced again. These were held in storage for two years until the lack of bullion prompted their release into circulation.

Between 1544 and 1551, the silver content of coins dropped numerous times. By 1551 it was only 25%; the previous fine silver content was 92.5%. It is estimated that this generated a profit of £1.27 million for the Crown.¹

The debasement of the coinage caused discontent and confusion amongst the population.

Edward VI – Return to fine silver

The advisers to Edward VI understood how the reputation of the coinage and the crown were inextricably linked. The king’s face on the coins was a guarantee of their worth. They sort to manage public opinion with a series of proclamations. Between 1542 and 1547, at the end of Henry’s reign, there had only been one proclamation related to the coinage. Between 1548 and 1565 there were 36.²

However, in the early year’s of Edward’s reign, the desperate state of the country’s finances dictated that coinage continued to be debased. His first issue continued to use the image of his father, Henry VIII. These included Testoons.

His second issue was in his own name and reverted to a profile image of the king. The Testoon was renamed as the Shilling. It was produced in two different weights and standards, which caused further confusion amongst the populace.

Photo: Spink

In 1551, Edward’s third issue returned to the fine silver standard of 92.5%.

In preparation for this, a declaration was issued to reduce the value of the previous shillings to nine pence and then to sixpence.

Elizabeth I – Currency reforms

When Elizabeth was crowned in 1558, she made reform of the currency one of her top priorities. As well as the issue of prolific counterfeiting the circulation of debased coins was still a problem. The worst affected coins were shillings because some were worse than others.

Guide to identifying shillings

It was decided that the “worse” type should be valued at 2¼ and the “better” at 4½ pence.

In September 1560 a proclamation, with images, was issued to enable people to identify which was which. However, this relied on the details on the coin being identifiable, in particular the mint mark. Also, some of the information in the proclamation was technically incorrect.

This all served to create more confusion and so the government decided that all shillings would be countermarked to show their current value; the “worse” ones with a greyhound and the “better” ones with a portcullis.

Because of the widespread distrust of mints and mint officials, it was decided that the stamping should be carried out in public. Stamping irons were sent out to the mayors of towns throughout the country. Along with a goldsmith, who would determine which type of shilling it was and stamp the coin, they would sit in an “open place” and countermark shillings.

References

The debasement of the coinage, 1542-1551, C. E Challis, 1967
Currency, conversation, and control: political discourse and the coinage in mid-Tudor England. Jennifer Bishop, 2016

Selection of other finds

The post PAS Finds (w/e 14/06/24) – Edward VI shilling with portcullis appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds (w/e 31 May 2024) – Crondall Thrysma

Paul — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 10:32:56 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS during the week ended 31 May 2024.

Featured Find

LEMC type of gold thrymsa

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Period: Anglo-Saxon

Date found: 27/08/2023

Location: Maidstone, Kent

A gold thrysma, dated to c. AD 600-750, with “LEMC” in the quarters on the reverse. The PAS record says “This coin is the first of it’s type to be found as a single find, with other examples recorded in the Crondall Hoard“.

Crondall Hoard

In 1828, 18 year-old Charles Lefroy was out shooting with his gamekeeper in Crondall, Hampshire. In a letter to the Numismatic Chronicle, dated 13 June 1843, he described the find:

“The coins which you have received from me for the purpose of publication in the Numismatic Chronicle were found by myself in the autumn of 1828 on a heath in the parish of Crondall in Hampshire. This heath is a continuation of Bagshot Heath. The boundary of the counties of Surrey and Hampshire cross it in the parish of Crondall, skirting an old encampment, situated on the abrupt point of a hill called “Caesar’s Camp within about a mile of which or a little more on the flat waste below I discovered these coins. A turf had been pared off for firing in the usual manner, leaving a smooth “dished” surface on the centre of which I saw a little heap of apparently brass waistcoat buttons lying mixed with earth but with the bright edges just washed bare by the late rains

On picking them up they proved to be these gold coins and the two jewelled ornaments and chains. The coins must have been confined in a purse, though there was no trace of one left, as some of the stones set in the ornaments had fallen out but were found among the coins together with a little stone, since lost probably belonging to some other ornament which had perished.

They were lying altogether on the surface completely cut out by the turf-cutter’s spade and upon a slight search which I made I could find no trace of any more. The collection consisted of one hundred small gold coins, the two jewelled ornaments and chain one of which was perfect at the time of their discovery and one fragment of a forged gold coin of which the circumference was perfect but the centre decayed.“

The 100 coins consisted of 73 Anglo-Saxon thrysmas, 24 gold Merovingian or Frankish tremisses and three unstruck gold planchets. It remains the only large hoard of Anglo-Saxon thrysma ever found and is now on display at the Ashmolean Museum. The hoard is thought to date to 635-650.

There were 12 different types of Thrysma of Anglo-Saxon manufacture in the hoard. Until this find, 5 of the 12 types are only known from this hoard. That is now 4. Only one has an interpretable inscription, of Eadbald of Kent.¹ That coin has been dated to c. 620-630.² It is the first coin issued in the name of an English king.

References

Selection of other finds

The post PAS Finds (w/e 31 May 2024) – Crondall Thrysma appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds (w/e 24 May 2024) – Henry I penny

Paul — Fri, 31 May 2024 15:46:06 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ending 24 May 2024.

Featured Find

Henry I penny – new variant

Photo: Bristol City Council CC By SA2.0

Period: Medieval

Date found: 29/04/2024

Location: Sandhurst, Gloucestershire

A penny of Henry I, which Martin Allen on the PAS records describes as “a new variant with inner circle but no crown on the obverse, and with a cross fleury on reverse“. Consequently, it is considered to be a Find of Note of National Importance.

The reverse reads +DRIV:[ ][N?]:[C, E or L]ODE giving the moneyer as Driu. This name is known as a moneyer at Hereford in Stephen type 7 and Henry II’s Cross and Crosslets (Tealby) coinage but is previously unknown for Henry I. The identity of the mint is unclear.

The PAS record notes that there our two other known Henry I types that have a three-quarter facing portrait, holding a sceptre (Type 6 and Type 15). It suggests that “The new coin appears to sit stylistically and chronologically between the two“

Type 6

Type 6, North 862, c. 1107

Type 15

Type 15, North 871 c. 1125-35

Bent coin

When found the coin was bent

Henry I penny as found.
Photo: Bristol County Council CC By SA2.0

The shallow even curve of the fold suggests that it may have been wrapped around a thick cord rather than being plough damage.

It may have been a prayer or pilgrims token.

Selection of other finds

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Roman ring of Mars

A Roman finger ring that depicts a raised figure of Mars, helmeted, with a spear in his right hand and resting on a shield to the right with his left hand. Considered a Find of Note.

Photo: West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service CC By SA2.0

Medieval Toy Jug

A miniature toy jug dating to AD 1200-1500 which is considered to be a Find of Note of County Importance.

The post PAS Finds (w/e 24 May 2024) – Henry I penny appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds (10 May 2024) – Viking weight with oval brooch

Paul — Fri, 17 May 2024 16:02:14 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ended 10 May 2024.

Featured Find

Viking weight with oval brooch

Photo: York Museums Trust CC By SA2.0

Object type: Weight

Period: Anglo-Saxon

Primary material: Lead

Date found: 30/04/2024

Location: Cottam, east Yorkshire

Although this looks unspectacular, it is considered to be a find of National Importance. It is slightly difficult to make out from the photographs, but it is a Viking lead weight into which a fragment of a copper alloy oval brooch has been imbedded. It is the rarity of the Viking oval brooch in the UK that gives this find its significance.

Danelaw and currency

Viking weights are widely known throughout its territories. They formed part of the bullion economy whereby repurposed or looted metal (mainly silver) could be traded. Although imprecise, the embedded objects in Viking weights allows them to be dated.

The establishment of a Viking settlement in part of England in the ninth century is known as Danelaw. The extent and nature of Danelaw is a matter of some debate. However, the dating of these “embedded object” weights suggest that a dual currency, bullion alongside coins, existed until at least 930 AD.¹

Embedded weights

Many different objects have been found embedded in Viking weights, including glasswork and shells but metalwork, including coins, is the most common. Where metalwork is used, it tends to be centred on the decorative design. It is not clear why decorative objects were embedded in weights. Perhaps, it simply provided a means of identifying a particular weight or maybe the origin of the embedded object afforded some kind of status or geographic identity to the owner.

References

‘Viking’ Lead Trade Weights by An Oxford Historian, 24 April 2022

Selection of other finds

Photo: PAS CC By SA2.0

Dobunnic “Anted Rig” gold stater

A gold Dobunnic “Anted Rig” gold stater issued in the name of Antedios. The inscription reads ANTEΘ RICOV, using a Greek Theta instead of a D and with the RIC dispersed in the field below the horse. A Find of Note of County Importance.

Photo: York Museums Trust CC By SA2.0

Penny of Harold II

A penny of Harold II Godwinson dating to AD 1066. The reverse legend reads “LEOFNOD ON LEGI” giving the moneyer as Leofnoth and the mint as Chester. This is the first example of a Harold II coin for this moneyer and is a Find of Note of County Importance. Damaged when found (see EMC 2023.0242), the flan has been straightened and a small piece reattached.

The post PAS Finds (10 May 2024) – Viking weight with oval brooch appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds – William of Aumale

Paul — Fri, 03 May 2024 16:00:24 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ended 19 April 2024

Featured Find

Cut halfpenny of William of Aumale

Photo: York Museums Trust CC By SA2.0

Period: Medieval

Date found: 12/12/2023

Location: Burstwick, East Yorkshire

This cut halfpenny has been attributed to William of Aumale, Earl of York, a baronial issue during the reign of Stephen. Only two other examples in William’s name are known and therefore this is considered a Find of Note of Regional Importance.

Penny of William of Aumale

One of the two complete examples is held by the Fitzwilliam Museum

Image: Fitzwilliam Museum CC BY-NC-ND

The obverse shows a standing figure in armour and helmet brandishing a sword with the legend WILL/EAMUS.

The reverse has a pseudo inscription and symbols typical of the Ornamental York series. It is believed to have been minted in York in around 1150.

The design is similar to that of Eustace Fitzjohn who was a supporter of Matilda, the rival to the throne of King Stephen.

Photo: Noonans

This penny of Eustace Fitzjohn was sold by Noonans in November 2020 for £24,000. It was found by detectorist Robert Brown on 15 August 2020.

The obverse legend reads EVSTACIUS.

William of Aumale

William of Aumale, also known as William le Gros because of his size, was a leading supported of King Stephen. So, possibly curious that he would use a similar design to Eustace Fitzjohn but also pragmatic as both coins were minted in York.

He was made Earl of York after distinguishing himself at the Battle of the Standard in 1138. He became one of the most powerful men in the north of England. He was a founder of religious houses and built a castle at Scarborough, in its present location. The castle was later forfeited that to King Henry II.

Selection of other finds

The post PAS Finds – William of Aumale appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds (w/e 29/03/24) – Kings Arms, Chatham

Paul — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 15:27:53 +0000

It has been a quiet couple of weeks at the PAS for finds with an interesting back story. This week I saw a token from a public house and these always have potential as more records exist, events tend to happen near or in pubs and the pub could well still exist. Sadly, not the case for the token in our Featured Find.

Featured Find

Token of Robert Smith of the Kings Arms, Chatham

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Object type: Token

Period: Post Medieval

Primary material: Copper alloy

Date found: 26/03/2024

Location: Queenhithe, London

On the obverse, the legend reads ROBERT SMITH AT YE OLD, around the Kings Arms. It continues on the reverse, IN CHATHAM 1671 around HIS / HALF / PENNY / R.I.S.

Robert served in the navy and married Mary Phinnes in 1640. The “R.I.S.” on the reverse suggests that he remarried at some point. He died in 1672, one year after this token was issued.¹

Chatham was the site of a Royal Navy Dockyard and the local brewers, Best of Chatham, received regular commissions for beer from the Admiralty². There is a story of a Captain Robert Smith searching “the smiths houses and other suspicious places for embezzled ironwork at Chatham“³ and with our Robert Smith being a navy man, this could be him but as it’s a relatively common name, it might well not be.

Unfortunately, the Kings Arms was ravaged by a fire in the 1990s and was eventually demolished in 2002.

The site is currently being redeveloped into a block of luxury apartments.

References

The post PAS Finds (w/e 29/03/24) – Kings Arms, Chatham appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds (w/e 15/03/24) – Harpocrates

Paul — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:58:09 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ended 15 March 2024.

Featured Find

Roman figurine of Harpocrates

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Object type: Figurine

Period: Roman

Primary material: Copper alloy

Date found: 14/11/2022

Location: Wallington, Hertfordshire

A cast copper-alloy figure of the god Harpocrates. It is probably a pin head and dates from the third to fourth century. The characteristic features of Harpocrates are a naked boy with his finger to his mouth.

The child Horus

Photo: Ángel M. Felicísimo, CC BY-SA 4.0

Harpocrates is the child version of the Horus, the Egyptian god of the sun. He represented the new sun each day and early vegetation.

Egyptian statues represent him with finger on his chin, which is the hieroglyph for child.

This is very similar to the Greco-Roman, and modern, gesture for “silence”, with a finger to the lips. In the first century BC, Marcus Terentius Varro, a prolific Roman author, wrote “Harpocrates with his finger makes a sign to me to be quiet.“

From this misunderstanding, Harpocrates became the god of silence and secrecy.

Sub Rosa

The story goes that Eros, the son of Aphrodite, gave a rose to Harpocrates to ensure that his mother’s various indiscretions were kept secret. Roses came to signify secrecy and would be suspended from the ceiling of meeting rooms to signify that discussions were to remain secret or sub rosa, “under the rose”. It is suggested that roses were used to decorate ceilings of Medieval to indicate that conversations were confidential and this is the derivation of the term “ceiling rose” for the decorative fittings on lights.

This is one of those stories that is much repeated on the internet and has been around for some time.¹ However, there is little primary evidence to back it up. A more mundane origin has been suggested for sub rosa: when the Greek army was planning a surprise attack on their Persian enemies, they discussed their plans in a rose bower. ²

Harpo Marx

Another story, which would be nice if it were true but isn’t, is that Harpo Marx took his name from Harpocrates.

Harpo Marx

The suggestion comes from the fact that Harpo was a mime artist who was silent in all his film appearances.

It’s unlikely that Harpo was familiar with classical Greek literature and indeed the joke was that Harpo never read any books, including his autobiography.

He was though a harpist and the inspiration for the Marx brothers names was a comic strip in which many of the characters names ended “-o”.

References

The Rose, it’s History, Poetry, Culture and Classification, S.B Parsons, 1847
Roses in the Middle Ages, Mia Touw, 1982,

The post PAS Finds (w/e 15/03/24) – Harpocrates appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds (w/e 21/2/24) – Flying Horse

Paul — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 16:10:03 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ended 21 February 2024

Featured Find

Halfpenny token of Richard Whittingham of the Flying Horse

Photo: Bish CC By SA2.0

Object type: Token

Period: Post Medieval

Primary material: Copper alloy

Date found: 23/11/2023

Location: Sandwich, Kent

Trade tokens are reasonably common detecting finds and this one is in pretty poor condition but is intriguing as, unusually, the 17th century premises still exist and there’s a couple of interesting quirks to the business name.

Photo: British Museum, CC By NC SA 4.0

Here is a better example from the British Museum. It reads Richard Whittingham In Wye 1667 over 5 lines on the obverse. On the reverse, a winged horse and “HIS 1/2 PENY”

Old Flying Horse

The building that housed the Flying Horse dates to the late C14 and has been used as a house, student hostel and Inn. It was hostelry from the 15th Century to 1956.¹

In 1863, it is reported that “This inn is still in Wye. It was new fronted a few years since; the interior was not then altered, and is believed now to much the same as when Richard Whittingham was host of the Flying Horse, on the green, the oldest and formerly the principal inn of the interesting old town of Wye“.²

The Old Flying Horse is the building on the corner, with the green in front and the entrance to Wye College on the left. On the 1909 postcard is visible “Rigdens Ales” and a hanging pub sign

1909 postcard. Image from Dover-Kent archives

2024 Google Maps

New Flying Horse

By 1832⁴, a new public house opened in the street around the corner called the “New Flying Horse”⁵. A second pub with an almost identical name so close by must have caused some confusion, particularly after a couple of beers.

The New Flying Horse is very much still in business, being named Pub of the Year by the brewery Shepherd Neame in 2023.

Earls of Nottingham and Winchelsea

The Earls of Nottingham and Winchelsea was a title passed down through the Finch family.

Arms of Heneage Finch

They were once the Lords of the Royal Manor of Wye and Hereditary Governors of Wye College until 1946.⁶

Hineage Finch II. Heneage II and his wife, the poet Ann Finch, lived in part of the college from 1690 to 1708. Heneage II was the son of Heneage Finch (baptised in Wye in 1628).

Their monogram and emblem of the Finch family was the Flying Horse.

A white horse rampant is a symbol of Kent. The winged horse on the Finch’s coat of arms may reflect their long association with the county.

Stagecoach

There is an obvious connection between the name of the Flying Horse Inn and the emblem of the Finch family. However, that may well just be a coincidence as there are a lots of “Flying Horse” inns in England. They were usually coaching inns which got their names after the emergence of the stagecoach trade in the 17th century. These services were known as the “flying horse” to emphasise the speed of travel.

This reason for the name of the Flying Horse would also explain why the New Flying Horse inn chose that name too, as it was also a former coach house.

References

Selection of other finds

The post PAS Finds (w/e 21/2/24) – Flying Horse appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Finds (w/e 9/2/24) – Penelope Clevland

Paul — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 12:29:24 +0000

My selection of the detecting finds recorded at the PAS in the week ended 9 February 2024

Featured Find

Memento Mori ring of Penelope Clevland

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By SA2.0

Object type: Ring

Period: Post Medieval

Primary material: Gold

Date found: 22/01/2024

Location: Sutcombe, Devon

This gold “memento mori” ring is considered to be a Find of Note of County Importance. It is unusual because it bears the deceased name in full. This usually indicates that it is a person of note or influence.

Therefore, it should be reasonably easy to identify the person. The ring reads “PENELOPE CLEVLAND OB 3 DEC 1746 AE 26”. So we’re looking for someone of note of that name who was born in December 1719 or in 1720. However, the PAS record does not suggest a possible owner and an initial quick search for a Penelope Clevland didn’t produce any results.

Clevland family of Tapeley

Captain William Clevland (1664-1734) purchased the estate of Tapeley Park in Westleigh, North Devon in 1704. It is still owned and occupied by his descendants. It is about 15 miles from the find site.

Mural monument to William Clevland

William Clevland was a commander in the Royal Navy. This memorial to him was commissioned by his only surviving son John in St Peter Church, Westleigh, the local parish church.

The nature of the memorial confirms the standing of the family in the area and their propensity to mark the death of a family member. Therefore, this family is a likely candidate.

William had a daughter called Penelope, who married an Admiral John Towry. I couldn’t find any dates for this Penelope but did find a reference to John Towry’s will of 1 March 1757 in which he left his whole estate to his wife Penelope.¹ And so that rules her out.

John Clevland

As William’s only surviving son, John’s marriages might provide a Penelope. In Burkes² he is shown as marrying twice, first to Elizabeth Child and then Sarah Shuckburgh. However, on his wikipedia page³, is a third marriage, between these two, to a Penelope Davie, daughter of Joseph Davie. There isn’t a good reference supporting this assertion but it is worth a look at Penelope Davie.

Penelope Davie

A Pennellopye Davie was the one of five children of Joseph Davie and Juliana Pryce. Joseph Davie was the son of John Davie a prominent tobacco merchant based in Bideford, which was one of the main ports in the tobacco trade. The family home was at Orleigh Court, about 10 miles from the find site.

Pennellopye was baptised on 6 October 1720. Her mother died of small pox on 3 February 1720, as shown by this memorial to her in the Church of St Mary & St Benedict in Buckland Brewer, Devon.

Therefore, this Pennellopye was probably born in the right date range for this ring.

Pennellopye’s had a tragic start to her life as not only did her mother die in her first few months but her father died when when she was only three. It is not clear who brought her up but, with both her parents gone, her name may well have been simplified to Penelope.

I can’t find another source to confirm Penelope’s marriage to John Clevland and her baptised name is spelt differently. It is always tempting to ignore the evidence that contradicts a theory but in this case I’m fairly confident this is the Penelope who is remembered on the ring.

References

History of Northumberland in Three Parts by John Hodgson 1832, Part II Vol II Page 331
Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire by Bernard Burke.
John Clevland – wikipedia

The post PAS Finds (w/e 9/2/24) – Penelope Clevland appeared first on Detecting Finds.

PAS Review – Plantation Tokens

Paul — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:40:12 +0000

My selection of the finds recorded at the PAS for the week ended 2 April. Normally I select detecting finds but this week’s Featured Find is from mudlarking. I thought that it is such an interesting find that I it merited a short trip across to the dark side.

Featured Find

Plantation Token

Photo: Surrey County Council CC By SA2.0

Object type: Token

Period: Post Medieval

Primary material: Tin

Date found: 31/01/2024

Location: Southwark, London

A coin, dated 1688, that was intended for use in the American plantations. Like most of the surviving examples, it is in poor condition. That is because it is made from tin, a most unsuitable metal for a coin. Below is a slightly better example, at the British Museum

The obverse shows James II riding a horse with the legend IACOBVS II D G MAG BRI FRAN ET HIB REX. The reverse has four crowned shields of England, Scotland, France and Ireland linked by chains, VAL 24 PART REAL HISPAN (translating to “Value a 24th part of a Spanish real”).

These coins are unusual for three reasons:

First authorised coinage for the British colonies in America
Only issue in pure tin for American use
Only British coinage using a Spanish denomination

Tin coins

Problems with tin

The main drawback of using tin is that at temperatures below 13.2C it undergoes an allotropic transformation, known as “tin pesting”, which causes tin objects to decompose to powder.

In June 1661, the deputy Master of the Mint, Henry Slingsby, reported to the newly restored king on the relative merits of copper and tin. He was concerned with the ease that tin coins could be counterfeited and concluded that copper was the better metal for coins.¹

Copper coinage

In 1672, the Royal Mint began producing copper half pence and farthings. It was the first time that they had minted any significant quantity of coinage in anything other than gold or silver.

Copper had its issues too; it was not produced in Great Britain in any quantity until 1690 and instead had to be imported from Sweden.

Support the Tin industry

In the latter part of the 17th Century the tin industry had been suffering due to the fall in prices. In 1686, the Crown “out of compassion of their circumstances” agreed to buy all tin produced in Cornwall and Devon at above the current market price. The contract included the coining of “pence, halfe pence and farthings of intrinsic value of Tynn throughout all his Majesty’s Dominions“. A personal meeting with James II was arranged for 19 June 1688 to sign the contract.²

On the face of it, that seems a good thing – support a domestic industry by finding a use for its product. By why did the king look on the tin industry so favourably and who benefitted from this decision.

John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath

John Granville

The answer to both questions is one of his loyal supporters and adviser, John Granville. He had fought in the Civil War on the side of Charles I and created a knight. He became a Lord of the Bedchamber to the Prince of Wales, the future king, Charles II.

He mediated in negotiations between Charles II and George Monck, that led to the restoration of the Monarchy. On Charles’ restoration, much to Granville’s dismay, Monck was rewarded with the Dukedom of Albermarle and a pension of £7,000 per year.³

Granville would also needed to be rewarded with titles that produced income.

Lord of the Stannaries

The production of tin in Cornwall and Devon came under control of the Lord Warden of the Stannaries. The first Lord Warden was appointed by Richard I on 20 November 1197. Under the Commonwealth Parliament, Oliver Cromwell did away with the Duchy of Cornwall and Stannaries. The unregulated tin industry boomed and the ordinary miner did very well. So much so that in 1658, in St Just on the “Tin Coast” of North Cornwall, 155 men signed a declaration of allegiance to Cromwell.⁴

In 1660, when the monarchy was restored, Charles II, reintroduced the Stannaries and appointed Granville to the role of Lord Warden.

Negotiations with the king

However, with the decline in tin mining in the years that followed his appointment, Granville finances suffered. In recognition of his continuing service to the Crown, he was still very much in favour and was now also Lieutenant of Cornwall and Devon. In June 1688, he lead a delegation to the king to seek approval for the minting of tin coins. With him was Thomas Griffith and Thomas Hartopp and two merchants, Richard Holt and James Kelke.¹ The king agreed.

Arrangements were made to have the coins minted at Skinners Hall by Richard Holt and an Elias Palmer.⁴

1/24th Real

There’s also the question of why a coin issued in Britain would have a Spanish denomination. The reasoning is contained in a letter accompanying the patterns from Richard Holt to the king in July 1688:

“… The Inscription on the Revers, Vis: vall 24. part Rial Hispan is because the said Coynes are intended to pass in his Majesty’s Plantacons & such parts of his Dominions where they only take Spanish money … and a Ryall being 6D Sterling in value it’s also convenient for his Majesty’s European Dominions.” That is, the coin would be worth a farthing.²

Restrike

The dies were cut by John Roettier one of England’s most famous engravers. As was customary at the time, the dies he cut became his property. Over a century later, his descendants sell his dies to a coin dealer called Matthew Young. He sold on many to the British Museum but he kept the 1/24th real dies and made some restrikes of the coins. The freshness of the tin made these restrikes easily distinguishable from the original but over time, as they too have suffered from pesting, this has become more difficult.²

Classification

In 1964 EP Newman classified the coin into 7 obverse and 7 reverse types.

Found coin

The found coin is a 2B. Obverse type 2 as the king’s head is directly under G, there is no stop after X and the hoof ends under right end base of E. The reverse is type B as there are 7 strings to the harp, lions’ heads rise to the left and the left fleur-de-lis is lower than the right.

British Museum coin

This coin is a 5D. Obverse type 5 as the head is between G and B, favouring B, gap between D and G, O in Jacobus is high and the hoof ends by X. The reverse is type D with 11 strings to the harp, small fleur-de-lis an lions with the latter being vertical.

The other significant characteristic is the die crack on the obverse between A and H. This marks it out as a restrike. Only three die combinations are known for restrikes; 4D, 4E and 5D. The 5D is most common and usually has the die crack. It has been suggested that restrikes can be distinguished by a lower tin content or die alignment although neither method has been satisfactorily proven.⁶

References

The post PAS Review – Plantation Tokens appeared first on Detecting Finds.