Sterling Guyennois of Edward III of England

This 20mm in diameter hammered silver coin was sent in by David Rauchfliesch, who asked me to provide a full ID and a valuation.

Within the inner circle on the obverse is a crowned half-length figure holding in one hand a sword and raising his other hand with a sign of benediction. The only letters that show up in the legend are REX AnG,(for King of England).
On the reverse is a cross pattee with three pellets in each angle, which is similar to English pennies of the same period. The surrounding legend reads DnS AQV ITA [NIE] (for Duke of Aquitaine).

The preceding information adds up to this coin being a sterling guyennois of Edward III of England. The coin is part of a series of Anglo-Gallic gold, silver and debased currency struck mostly by English kings for their possessions in France. The series starts with Henry II and ends with Henry VI. Anglo-Gallic coins make up a large and complex series and specimens of the more common types occasionally turn up in England.

Coins similar to the specimen pictured here were struck for Prince Edward (the Black Prince) and are quite rare. However, David’s coin was struck for King Edward III and this makes it much rarer. It is a type 2 sterling guyennois, struck between 1361 and 1363 and is listed in Coins of Scotland, Ireland and the Islands as number 8076.

Valuation

A nearly VF example of the same coin was sold at auction earlier this year and the hammer price was $1,000. Sadly, David’s find is not as good. About half of the legend on both sides is flat but the rest of the coin is much better. It’s a real rarity so my price range would still be £220-250. If sold at auction it would need to be properly catalogued in order to fetch the best possible price.

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