Continental sterling of John d’Avesnes

The finder of this hammered silver coin, Edward Burns, had already identified it but he wanted a valuation on it.

The coin is a Continental sterling of the ‘crockard’ type, so-called because the head on the obverse has rosettes in the hair. The legend on the obverse reads + I COMES hAnOnIE, so this sterling was struck for Jean (or John) d’Avesnes when he was Count of Hainaut (1280-1304). There is a double saltire stop either side of I and another after COMES.C

The reverse copies the English type of Edward I but the legend reads VAL EnC IEn EnS. Therefore, this coin was struck at the mint situated in Valenciennes.

Valuation

Some collectors specialising in the Edward I-III period avoid Continental sterlings. Since a large range of different issuers, mints and types circulated in England I’d suggest that at least a selection should be included in numismatic collections. The series is complex and diverse but I for one consider it to be truly fascinating.

Edward’s find isn’t a rarity and I’d grade it no higher than Fine, so my valuation figure would be only £35. This might seem quite low but it is double the price for most Edward I pennies in similar condition.

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