Medieval English Hammered Farthings - Edward IV

This online guide is designed to help

• Metal Detector enthusiasts
• Museum Curators
• Coin Dealers & Collectors

accurately identify and classify their English Hammered Farthings.

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Overview:

The Wars of the Roses was raging in 1464, resulting in a reduction in the weight of coins to increase supply. While some farthing classifications are divided into "Heavy Coinage" and the "Light Coinage" issues, there is no clear indication that farthings continued to be produced after Edward was restored as king in 1471. Wither's does not distinguish between issues. Light farthings are mentioned in both the 1464 and 1465 indentures.

Typical examples of these coins are unevenly struck on undersized flans.

In an article by Dr. Rogers (SNC, Nov. 1998, 'The Norwich Halfpennies of 1465', p. 403), he states that "the Nowich mint struck halfpennies for a long enough period to justify the expense of making new dies. If halfpennies were needed, there would also have been a demand for farthings". So a detectorist may yet uncover a Norwick farthing.

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Date: 1461-1464
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm (i.c.d.o: 5mm)
Weight: 0.21 - 0.28 (3¾ grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWΛRD REX ΛnGLI
    Lis on breast, pellets by crown. Mintmark: Plain Cross
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with with three pellets, but an extra very
    small pellet in the TΛS and DOn quarters. (ref. Seaby 1971 p.132)

Reference(s):
  W. WIV 1a
  S.1994
  N1548/1.
  Blunt: Type I 1548/1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £600 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1461-1464
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm (i.c.d.o: 5mm)
Weight: 0.21 - 0.28 (3¾ grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWΛRD REX ΛnG
    Lis on breast, pellets by crown. Mintmark: Plain Cross
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with with three pellets, but an extra very
    small pellet in the LOn and DOn quarters.

Reference(s):
  W. WIV 1a
  S.1994
  N1548/1.
  Blunt: Type I 1548/1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £600 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1461-1464
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm (i.c.d.o: 5mm)
Weight: 0.21 - 0.28 (3¾ grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWΛRD R ΛnGLIx
    Nothing on breast, pellets by crown. Mintmark: Plain Cross
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with with three pellets.

Reference(s):
  W. WIV 2a
  S.1994
  N.
  Blunt: Type I 1548/1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £600 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1461-1464
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.21 - 0.28 (3¾ grains¹)

Obverse:|EDWΛRD DI GRΛ
    No marks by bust. Mintmark: Rose. Large mint mark
    and letters as used on the halfpennies.
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with with three pellets, but an extra pellet
    in the TΛS and DOn quarters.

Reference(s):
  W. WIV 3a
  S.
  N.
  Blunt: unlisted
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £275 (Fine)
  £650 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1464/5-1470
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.21 gm (3¾ grains¹)

Obverse:|EDWΛRD DI' GRΛ RE[X]
    No marks by bust. Mintmark: Rose
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W. WIV 3b
  S.1994B
  N. 1548/2
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £225 (Fine)
  £575 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1464/5-1470
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.21 - 0.28 (3¾ grains¹)

Obverse:|EDWΛRD DI GRΛ REX Λ
    No marks by bust. Mintmark: Rose
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W. WIV 3c
  S.1994B
  N. 1548/2
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £225 (Fine)
  £575 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1461-1464
Mint: London
Type: HEAVY COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.21 - 0.28 (3¾ grains¹)

Obverse:[|]EDWΛRD DI GRΛ REX [-?]
    Saltires by neck. Mintmark: Rose
Reverse: CIVITAS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W. WIV 4a
  S.1994A
  N.
  Blunt:
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £275 (Fine)
  £650 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1464-1470
Mint: London
Type: LIGHT COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.19g

Obverse: [crown] EDWARD[-----]RE
    Trefoils by neck. Mintmark: Crown
Reverse: CIVITAS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
 W. WIV 1a
  S.2077A
  N.1612/1
  Blunt:
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £650 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1464-1470
Mint: London
Type: LIGHT COINAGE

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.19g

Obverse: [crown] EDWARD DI GRA R[E]X
    Trefoils by neck. Mintmark: Crown
Reverse: CIVITAS LOnDOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
 W. WIV 1a variant
  S.2077A
  N.1612/1
  Blunt:
Scarcity: Extremely Rare

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £650 (Very Fine)

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¹ SEABY, BA. (ed) 1948: Notes on English Silver Coins 1066-1648 to help
  collectors in their classification (London, Seaby). pp 87

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