Medieval English Hammered Farthings: Henry VI - London

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:

A number of different mintmarks were used during the reign of Henry VI - allowing for the dating of farthings:

• Annulet (1422-27²)
• Rosette-Mascle (1427-30²)
• Pinecone-Mascle (1430-34²)
• Leaf-Mascle (1434-35²)
• Leaf-Trefoil (1435-38²)
• Pellet (1443-60²)
• Leaf-Pellet (1445-54²)
• Saltire (1454-60²)

Full flan coins are difficult to find. This makes collecting farthings from this period an interesting and challenging task.

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Date: 1422-1427
Mint: London
Type: ANNULET ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +hEnRIC'xREXxAnGLI
    No extra marks. "Bib" chest. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.A.1a
  S.1851
  N.1437
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £90 (Fine)
  £225 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1422-1427
Mint: London
Type: ANNULET ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +hEnRIC'xREXxAnGL
    No extra marks. "Bib" chest. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.A.2a
  S.1851
  N.1437
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £90 (Fine)
  £225 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1422-1427
Mint: London
Type: ANNULET ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +[hEnRIC ]REXxAnGL
    No extra marks. "Bib" chest. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.A.3a
  S.1851
  N.1437
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £90 (Fine)
  £225 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1427-1430
Mint: London
Type: ROSETTE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +hEnRICtREX[|]AnGL
    Rosette and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
    King's head with angular chin - spade shaped face.
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.RM.1a
  S.1872
  N.1455
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £125 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1427-1430
Mint: London
Type: ROSETTE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +hEnRICtREX | AnGL
    Rosette and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
    King's head with angular chin - spade shaped face. Mascle struck
    over the Rosette after REX.
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.RM.1a error
  S.1872
  N.1455
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £125 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1427-1430
Mint: London
Type: ROSETTE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +hEnRICtREX | AnGL
    Rosette and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
    King's head with rounded chin - variant bust.
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with an extra pellet in the LOn and DOn quarters
    and three pellets in the CIVI TAS quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.RM.1a variant
  S.1872
  N.1455
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £125 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1427-1430
Mint: London
Type: ROSETTE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: +hEnRIC|REXt[AnGL]
    Rosette and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.RM.2a
  S.1872
  N.1455
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £125 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1427-1430
Mint: London
Type: ROSETTE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.21g (3¾ grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: [+?]hEnRIC|REXtAnGL[I?]
    Rosette and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn[|?]
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Rosette over
    last n?

Reference(s):
  W.RM.3b
  S.1872
  N.1455
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £125 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1430-1434
Mint: London
Type: PINECONE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICQREXtAnGL
    Pinecone and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "cross pommee."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PM.1a
  S.1886
  N.1470
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1430-1434
Mint: London
Type: PINECONE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICQREXtAnGL
    Pinecone and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PM.2a
  S.1886
  N.1470
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1430-1434
Mint: London
Type: PINECONE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICQREXtAnGL
    Pinecone and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TOR LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PM.2b
  S.1886
  N.1470
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1430-1434
Mint: London
Type: PINECONE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICQREXtAnGL
    Pinecone and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TASQ LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PM.2c
  S.1886
  N.1470
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1430-1434
Mint: London
Type: PINECONE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICQREXt AnGL
    Pinecone and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOnQ
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PM.2d
  S.1886
  N.1470
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1430-1434
Mint: London
Type: PINECONE-MASCLE ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICVS[Q?]REX[t?]AnGL
    Pinecone and Mascle in legend. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PM.3a
  S.1886
  N.1470
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1435-1438
Mint: London
Type: LEAF ISSUE - Trefoil Stops

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRIC·:REXxAnGL'
    Leaf on breast and trefoil in legend. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.LT.1a
  S.1907
  N.1494
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1435-1438
Mint: London
Type: LEAF ISSUE - Trefoil Stops

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hE[---- ----]AnGL'
    Leaf on breast and trefoil in legend. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.LT.2a
  S.1907
  N.1494
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1435-1438
Mint: London
Type: TREFOIL-LEAF ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICxREX [---]L
    Trefoils by neck and leaf on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.TL.1a
  S.-
  N.-
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1444-1461
Mint: London
Type: PELLET ISSUE (an unrecorded type)

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRIC REX AnGLI
    Pellets by crown and nothing on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Extra pellet
    on the beaded line under CIVI & LON.

Reference(s):
  W. Unlisted
  S.-
  N.-
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £120 (Fine)
  £350 (Very Fine)

Note:

• This type is unrecorded by Withers - but a halfpenny has recently been found that also has pellets by the crown and clearly nothing on the breast. That example has additional pellets in the TAS & DON quarters (i.e. not on the beaded line), so there are probably other reverse variants for this type.

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Date: 1445-1454
Mint: London
Type: PELLET-LEAF ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRIC REX AnGLI
    Pellets by crown and leaf on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PL.1a
  S.1930
  N.1513
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £135 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1445-1454
Mint: London
Type: PELLET-LEAF ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRIC REX AnGLI
    Pellets by crown and leaf on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Extra pellet
    under TAS & DOn.

Reference(s):
  W.PL.1c
  S.1930
  N.1513
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £135 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1445-1454
Mint: London
Type: PELLET-LEAF ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: [+]hEnRIC REX AnGL[--]
    Pellets by crown and leaf on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Extra pellet
    under CIVI & LOn.

Reference(s):
  W.PL.2b
  S.1930
  N.1513
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £135 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1445-1454
Mint: London
Type: PELLET-LEAF ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRIC REX An[?GLI]
    Pellets by crown and leaf on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Extra pellet
    under TAS & DOn.

Reference(s):
  W.PL.3c
  S.1930
  N.1513
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £135 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1445-1454
Mint: London
Type: PELLET-LEAF ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEn[RIC ]REXxAnGLI
    Pellets by crown and leaf on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PL.4a
  S.1930
  N.1513
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £135 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1445-1454
Mint: London
Type: PELLET-LEAF ISSUE

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +-]EnRICxREXxAnG[-
    Pellets by crown and leaf on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.PL.5a
  S.1930
  N.1513
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £135 (Fine)
  £375 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1454-1461
Mint: London
Type: SALTIRE ISSUE - Nothing by crown

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRIC REX AnGLI
    Saltire on breast. Mintmark is a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  W.S.1a
  S.1944
  N.-
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £150 (Fine)
  £450 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1454-1461
Mint: London
Type: SALTIRE ISSUE - Pellets by crown

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRICxREXxAnGLI
    Saltire on breast and pellets by crown. Mintmark is
    a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Extra pellet
    under CIVI & LOn.

Reference(s):
  W.SP.1a
  S.1944
  N.1525
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £150 (Fine)
  £450 (Very Fine)

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Date: 1454-1461
Mint: London
Type: SALTIRE ISSUE - Pellets by crown

Diameter: 10mm
Weight: 0.24gm

Obverse: +hEnRIC REX AnGLI
    Saltire on breast and pellets by crown. Mintmark is
    a "plain cross."
Reverse: CIVI TAS LOn DOn
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter. Extra pellet
    under CIVI & LOn.

Reference(s):
  W.SP.2a
  S.1944
  N.1525
Scarcity: Very Rare

Guide Price:
  £150 (Fine)
  £450 (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

² WHITTON, CA. 1938-41: 'The Heavy Coinage of Henry VI' BNJ 23,
  p. 412

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