Edward I, penny Class VIIA

This coin was sent in a couple of days after it was unearthed by Richard Wells. It’s a London penny of Edward I and Richard had already identified it as belonging to class VIIA or VIIB. However, he wanted to know if I could tell him anything more about it.

On the obverse King Edward has a rose on his breast, which is a distinctive feature of class VII. Besides the rose each letter N has two down strokes, which is another feature found only on class VII. In English Coins 1180-1551 Lord Stewartby mentions that coins of class VII have a closed letter C on the reverse. However, on this coin and others I have seen the letter C is composite (made up of a crescent and two wedges).

I’d identify Richard’s find as being an example of class VIIA. What remains of the coin would grade about VF but the edge is chipped, cracked and has pieces missing. The condition leaves something to be desired but this penny is a distinctive type for Edward I and is much scarcer than most of the other London pennies that were struck during this reign.