England

A thousand years of English coinage

The silver penny was the backbone of English coinage for centuries. This category follows its development from an early Anglo-Saxon sceatta through the late Saxon and Viking period to the larger denominations of the later Middle Ages and the Tudor and Stuart monarchs. It also includes Georgian copper and coins from Guernsey and Jersey.

What is in this category?

• Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian: a sceatta from around 600–775, a penny of Æthelred II (1009–1016) and a penny of Cnut (around 1017–1023).
• Plantagenet pennies and farthings: Long Cross pennies of Henry III, pennies of Edward I and a farthing from around 1301–1310.
• Groats: Edward III (including a Treaty Period groat), a halfgroat of Henry VI, light-coinage groats of Edward IV and Facing Bust groats of Henry VII.
• Tudor and Stuart silver: a shilling of Edward VI (1551–1553), a sixpence of Elizabeth I (1571) and several shillings of Charles I.
• Great Britain: farthings of 1731 and 1733, a halfpenny of 1748 and a halfcrown of 1836, plus a small group of 20th-century coins.
• Channel Islands: doubles from Guernsey and 1/12 and 1/24 shilling from Jersey.

Why are English pennies interesting to Scandinavian collectors?

English coins of the late Viking Age reached Scandinavia in large numbers, and the English penny influenced the earliest Scandinavian coinages. Æthelred II and Cnut, who ruled both England and Denmark, are therefore names many Norwegian collectors know. If you collect the earliest Norwegian coins, see also Norway before 1814.

What do collectors look for?

Hammered coins were struck by hand, so a full, round flan, a clear portrait and readable legends and mint marks are important. Clipping, cracks and repairs are common and are stated in the description. Medieval English coins are usually identified with Spink (S) and North (N) numbers, and provenance from earlier collections or auctions adds interest. More European coins can be found under Europe.