Overview:
There was a mint set up in Berwick by David I of Scotland. Scottish coins were struck here until the town was captured and sacked by Edward I on March 30, 1296. Following the battle of Stirling Bridge on September 11 1297, the town was recaptured by the Scots, although they failed to recapture the castle. In the Spring of 1298 the English army returned and on the news of their approach, the Scots withdrew from the town. The English then occupied Berwick until 1318. After the battle of Halidon Hill in July 1333 it once again was occupied by the English. The great majority of the coins (except Class 5 of Edward II) were struck from local dies and all the farthings produced at Berwick during this reign are extremely rare.
Edward III Berwick farthings feature a bear's head in two of the reverse quarters - a device taken from the coat of arms of Berwick at that time of a bear standing next to a tree in luxuriant foliage.
Until recently all Edward III Berwick farthings were grouped into one type: Type 8b. This one type has now been sub-divided into 4 types - each type with subtle variations in crown, face, drapery and legends. But, the major theme across the types is a gradual degradation of the quality of the dies used to strike farthings, starting with an official looking portrait and ending with a portrait that resembles little more than a blob with a crown.
Date: c.1333-42
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 7a
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS D
·GR
Tall bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. "Zorro mask"
eyes. Drapery has folds.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI
"Long Cross" with three pellets in the LAB and ICI quarters and
a bear's head in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: Date: c.1333-42
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 7b
Diameter: 13mm (i.c.d.o: ?mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)
Obverse: +EDWARDVS D·GR'
Tall bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. "Zorro mask"
eyes. Drapery has folds.
Reverse: VIL LAB ERV ICI
"Long Cross" with three pellets in the LAB and ICI quarters and
a bear's head in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b mule
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8a
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS: D'G'
Low bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Pellet
eyes. Drapery looks like an open fan.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI
·
"Long Cross" with three pellets in the LAB and ICI quarters and
a bear's head in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8b
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS D'G'
Low bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Pellet
eyes. Drapery looks like an open fan.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI
·
"Long Cross" with three pellets in the LAB and ICI quarters and
a bear's head in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8c
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS: D
EI [GRA]
Low bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Pellet
eyes. Drapery looks like an open fan.
Reverse: VVI LLA [B
ER VICI]
"Long Cross" with three pellets in the LAB and ICI quarters and
a bear's head in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Note: The coin shown above has been attributed to this type based on the LLA clearly seen on the reverse of the coin. While the obverse legend is not complete, this is the only type with LLA in one quarter on the reverse.
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 9a
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)
Obverse: +
EVVARDVS D
EI GRA
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
portrait from local dies. Inner circle of very small dots or a line.
Reverse: VIL LA
· B
ER VICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VIL and BER
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s) *:
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIH55]
North Syll.-
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 9b
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS
·D'
·GR
·A
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
portrait from local dies. Inner circle of very small dots or a line.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VIL and ERV
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 9c
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS: ANGLI
E (reversed N)
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Very crude
portrait from local dies. Inner circle of very small dots or a line.
Reverse: VLL LAB
ERV ICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VLL and ERV
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 9d
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS
·AnGLI
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Very crude
portrait from local dies. Inner circle of very small dots or a line.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VIL and ERV
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 9e
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS
·AnGLI[?]
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Very crude
portrait from local dies. Inner circle of very small dots or a line.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI:
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VIL and ERV
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 10ai
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS.........
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Very poor
portrait from local dies. Return to normal inner circle.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VIL and ERV
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 10aii
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVS.........
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Very poor
portrait from local dies. Return to normal inner circle.
Reverse: VIL LAB
ERV ICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the LAB and ICI
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 10bi
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVSANG (N reversed)
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Very poor
portrait from local dies. Return to normal inner circle.
Reverse: VILL
· AB
E RVV ICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VILL and RVV
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 10bii
Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)
Obverse: +
EDWARDVSANG (N reversed)
Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Very poor
portrait from local dies. Return to normal inner circle.
Reverse: VIL: LAB
EW ICI
"Long Cross" with bear's head in the VIL and ERW
quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.
Reference(s):
N.1094
S.1539
Blunt. Type 8b
[SHIOH55]
North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare
Guide Price:
£45 (Fine)
£110 (Very Fine)
Can't find your coin?
¹ SEABY, BA. (ed) 1948: Notes on English Silver Coins 1066-1648 to help
collectors in their classification (London, Seaby). pp 87
RSS Updates
![[Valid RSS]](../valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")