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From Anglo-Saxon To Victorian English Coins.
By Uncle Monty.
Illustrations By Coin Book Author.
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In 1890, now over 120 years ago, Llewellynn Jewitt,
F.S.A. wrote his little handbook entitled "English Coins
And Tokens" that was published in London by Swan
Sonnenschein & Co. for 1 shilling in hardback
with 128pp. in its third edition.
with 128pp. in its third edition.
I found and bought Jewitt's gem for a British fiver
at Hastings while rummaging for old books at a junk
at Hastings while rummaging for old books at a junk
shop there last week. It is now the oldest book I have
on old English and world coins among my small but
rather select collection of such. Indeed, Llewellynn
Jewitt's book is valued as abit of a rarity in itself at
the list prices of between 13 to 38 quid thesedays
depending, of course, on the degree of foxing,
damage, and overall book condition.
on old English and world coins among my small but
rather select collection of such. Indeed, Llewellynn
Jewitt's book is valued as abit of a rarity in itself at
the list prices of between 13 to 38 quid thesedays
depending, of course, on the degree of foxing,
damage, and overall book condition.
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Rare Coin Specimens of Only
20 of Charles II (1660 to 1685)
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With over 235 engraved black and white miniature
illustrations of British Anglo-Saxon to Victorian coins
(as seen in the above lead illustration of the Victorian
"Gothic" coins) and 17th century traders' tokens, the
Jewitt book is a rare treasure for those like me who
love old coins of every kind. But most especially for
me of those coins of the old English and Colonial
American type. The book is written primarily for
The Young Collector, so the cover says, yet the
information and details included in his now quite
rare handbook are sophisticated beyond the years
of most young coin collectors of both those of 120
years ago or of today's young 21st century
numismatists.
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As an advanced coin collector myself, I have learned
so much I didn't know about Anglo-Saxon coinage
and coin mintage and issues under the various kings
and queens of England thanks to Jewitt's deep and
wide knowledge imparted in his serious and rather
readable coin handbook of 1890.
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English Gold Coins - Edward III (1327 to 1377)
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Among the things I learned from Jewitt's coin book
included some new knowledge of the following
such as gun money and rare mintmarks. Also I
learned that some 60 to 70 different places of
coin mintage was common in the 12th to 14th
centuries inside old Albion or Britain. As for
Henry II (1145-1189), only sliver pennies were
minted, while silver halfpennies and pennies
were minted under Richard I (1189-1199).
:-:
Under King John (1199-1216), no English
coins are known to have been minted during
his reign. Short-cross pennies of Henry II,
however, continued to be minted during
John's 17 years on the British Throne.
While in Ireland, halfpennies and farthings
were minted of John's reign. So states
Llewellynn Jewitt's fascinating handbook.
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Significantly under Henry III of England
(1207-1272) the first gold coins - The
Gold Penny - were the first by any English
monarch. After Henry III, no gold coins
were minted in England until Edward III
(1327-1377). In other words, for
almost 60 years, no English gold
coins were minted.
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Anglo-Saxon Pennies Under
Mercian King Offa (757 to 796)
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Under the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell (1653 to
1658), Gold Fifty-shilling, Broad or Twenty shilling, and
half-Broad or Ten shilling issues appeared. Also silver
ninepence and sixpence coins were put in circulation.
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Followed by Charles II (1660 to 1685), that saw the
mintage of gold Five-Guinea-piece, Two-Guinea piece,
One Guinea, and Half-Guinea. Also the copper and
tin farthing become commonplace.
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James II (1685-1689) saw the rise of what was called
"Gun Money" during his very short reign of four years.
Llewellynn Jewitt spells out the meaning of English Gun
Money: "Silver being scarce in this reign, an issue of
base money was restored to, some of which, being
struck from old cannon and domestic utensils melted
down, is called 'Gun Money.'"
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Then we had the crazy George III (1760 to 1820) in whch
gold Third-of-guinea or Seven-shilling piece (7s.), Quarter-
of-guinea (5s. 3d), Sovereign (20s.) and Half-sovereign
(10s.) existed in his 60 year reign until the second decade
of the 19th century. Again with the great problem of silver
scarcity in 1797, it reached the point of using "Spanish
dollars and half-dollars that were countermarked with a
small punch of the king's head and put in circulation as
current coin value of 4 shillings and 9 pence," notes
Jewitt. The Spanish dollars and half dollars were soon
plagued by counterfeit stamp marks and so in 1804 a
new dollar was issued with the legend "Bank of England
Five Shillings Dollar, 1804." Under George III, too, a
large variety of copper coins were also struck for The
East India Company, Isle of Man, Prince of Wales
Island, Sierra Leone, Barbados, Ceylon, etc.
:-:
After George III came William IV ( 1830 to 1837)
and then, of course, Queen Victoria who reigned
from 1837 to 1901. Such being the longest reign
of any British monarch to date. Llewellynn Jewitt
was not to live to see the death of Victoria. And
so, his coin handbook deals only in the first stages
of the many designs and coin dye changes during
her long and almost 65 years on the throne. Under
her reign, Maundy Money is first mentioned by
Jewitt in his reference to Victorian coinage.
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Perhaps in the coming days I'll add a little more
in telling you even more of what I have learned
from the 120 year-old coin handbook that is as
valid today as it was then. Indeed, it might be
more valid today than it was over a century ago
as far as its history and usefulness to numismatists
of English and worldwide coin collecting
of this day and age.
:-:
With pleasure, Uncle Monty.
+Ember Day, 20ll.
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Antiquarian Book Prices for
Some Rarer Llewellynn Jewitt Books.
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Feedback & Comments
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Arnie & Beyoncé
By Uncle Monty.
Graphics By Alex Albion.
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They Have No Name, Say They.
By Uncle Monty.
TCWNN Photos By Alex Albion.
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Google Images from thebiggerissue.org
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{ Click on any image to Enlarge }
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