Sterling of Gaucher de Chatellon

October 18, 2024 Peter

The images of this coin were sent in by Anthony Hopkinson on behalf of the finder – Anthony Pickering. It was thought to be a Continental sterling and I was asked to provide as much information as possible.

The obverse and reverse are both of the English type. Continental sterlings like this one were more likely to pass as English pennies as they looked so much alike. As most people could not read they would be unaware that the legends did not match.

On the obverse the legend reads +GALChS COMES PORC. On the reverse we have MON ETN OVA yVE. Therefore, this is a sterling of Gaucher de Chatellon as Lord of Florennes (PORC, short for Porcien on the coin). The legend on the reverse tells us that it was struck at the mint situated in Yves. The type dates between 1313 and 1322.

Some of the sterlings that turn up as detecting finds are very rare but this isn’t one of them. Of the numerous types and varieties, specimens bearing the name of Gaucher de Chatellon rate as one of the most common. Having said this, they are nowhere near as common as English pennies of Edward I-II.