Medieval English Hammered Farthings: Henry V - Calais

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 town of Calais in what is now Northern France was under English rule from 1347 until 7 January 1558 and it was a bit of a "vanity" statement for the English monarchs in their claim on the French crown. It cost almost a 1/5th of all the revenue collected in England to maintain the town as an English possession.

The production of Calais farthings did not commence until July 1422 during the reign of Henry V and the mint closed during the reign of his son, Henry VI.

1413:

In the first year of Henry V's reign, Lodovich (or Lewis) John was appointed as Master and Worker of the Mints in London and Calais. While Lodovich John may have held titular control of the Calais mint, mint records from the time provide no evidence that any gold or silver coins were produced at Calais until 1422.¹

It is not surprising that Calais did not produce coinage during most of Henry V's reign as England and France were at war with each other making continental trade, which Calais relied on, almost impossible. Peace between the nations was not restored until the English victory over the French at Agincourt in 1415 and the subsequent Treaty of Troyes in May 1420. With peace came a resumption of the wool trade and prosperity for Calais. In 1421, plans were underway to reactivate the Calais mint.

May 1421:

Parliament authorises a mint to be re-established at Calais.²

Early 1422:

Bartholomew Goldbeter is appointed Master of the London and Calais Mints.

16 May 1422:

Orders are issued "to William Lackford, Richard Buckland's man, [for] all irons etc., necessary to coin money in Calais, [for all denominations, including] one for silver [farthings]."³

20 July 1422:

Mint records for Calais resume, with both gold and silver denominations being produced.

31 August 1422:

Henry V dies at the age of 35. The mint has been active for only about 5 weeks.

Understandably, Henry V farthings produced at the Calais mint are extremely rare.

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Date: 1422
Mint: Calais
Mint Master: Bartholomew Goldbeter
Type: Standard

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.25g (3¾grains⁴)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +HEnRIC·REX·ΛnGL
    Small face and crown, with narrow neck and shoulders. Inner circle
    made up from long dashes rather than round pellets. Face and
    crown as used on some half nobles.

Reverse: VIL LΛ: CΛL IS':
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Inner circle made up
    from round pellets.

Reference(s):
  S.1798A
  N.-
  W. HV Type 1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare (Flud R-9)

Guide Price:
  £325 (Fine)
  £1000 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1422
Mint: Calais
Mint Master: Bartholomew Goldbeter
Type: Standard

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.25g (3¾grains⁴)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +HEnRIC·REX·ΛnGL
    Small face and crown, with narrow neck and shoulders. Inner circle
    made up from long dashes rather than round pellets. Face and
    crown as used on some half nobles.

Reverse: VIL [LΛ: CΛL] IS'·
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Inner circle made up
    from long dashes rather than round pellets.

Reference(s):
  S.1798A
  N.-
  W. HV Unlisted
Scarcity: Extremely Rare (Flud R-9)

Guide Price:
  £325 (Fine)
  £1000 (Very Fine)