PAS Finds

PAS Review: week ending 21 May 2021

PAS Review: week ending 21 May 2021

A round-up of some of the finds recorded at the PAS for the week ended 21 May. There were 179 finds recorded in this week. 

Featured Find

Henry VIII groat, Tournai mint

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By 2.0
Period: Post-Medieval
Date found: 15/05/2021
Location: East Lindsey, Lincolnshire

Silver groat of Henry VIII, first coinage, dating to AD 1513-1518.  Tournai mint. Coins of this type are uncommon, with only one other recorded on the PAS database. The PAS record designates it as a find of note: National Importance

Tournai Mint

On the reverse is the legend CIVITAS TORNACEN, indicating the mint of Tournai. The town of Tournai, which is in modern day Belgium, was captured by Henry VIII in September 1513 and brought an end to his campaigning in this area. To mark this, English style groats were struck from dies prepared by Henry Basse. Production began in the following March and lasted only a few weeks, during which 2,381 pounds of silver was made into groats and half-groats.

The obverse has a mint mark of a crowned T and the legend reads HENRIC DI GRA REX FRANC Z AGLIE – Henry, king of France and England, rather than the usual England and France.

Treaty of London

Tournai remained English until the Autumn of 1518, when it was handed back to the French as part of the “Treaty of London”. This treaty was a non-aggression pact between the major European powers of the time. It was brokered by Cardinal Wolsey and served to greatly increase the standing of Henry VIII in European political circles.

Selection of other finds

Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By 2.0

Gaming piece

A Roman lead gaming piece
Photo: The Portable Antiquities Scheme CC By 2.0

Anglo-saxon sceat, series H

Obverse: Moustached “Wodan” head surrounded by eight roundels, all within a beaded border. Reverse: crested peacock displaying right and quincunx below neck.
Share
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments