English Coinage of the Lancastrian & Yorkist Plantagenets

Started by Deeman, March 17, 2022, 04:20:56 PM

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Deeman

Edward IV second reign halfpenny

The obverse design is a bust facing and a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, which translates to translates to 'Edward by the Grace of God, king'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée dividing the coin into four quadrants with a circumscription, identifying the London mint, split across the quadrants, with each inner quadrant having a trio of pellets.





1473-77 halfpenny, London, cross in circle initial mark.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DЄI GRA RЄX, no marks by neck.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1473-77 halfpenny, London, pellet in annulet initial mark.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DЄI GRA RЄX, no marks by neck.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1477-80 halfpenny, London, pierced cross initial mark.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DЄI GRA RЄX, pellets flanking neck, saltire after RЄX.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, small extra pellet in each quadrant.

Deeman

Edward V

The eldest surviving son of Edward IV, he was born when his father was in brief exile in Holland after being deposed by the Earl of Warwick. After Edward IV had reclaimed his crown, young Edward was made Prince of Wales in Jun 1471. He was sent with his mother to Ludlow in 1473 to be titular ruler of Wales and the Welsh Marches, staying there for much of the rest of his father's reign.

Upon Edward IV's death in April 1483, Edward became king, aged 12. His uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was made Protector by the will of Edward IV. Richard had been loyal throughout to his brother Edward IV including the events of 1470-71, Edward's exile and their brother's rebellion (the Duke of Clarence, who was executed in 1478 by drowning, reputedly in a barrel of Malmsey wine). However, he was suspicious of the Woodville faction, possibly believing they were the cause of Clarence's death.

In response to an attempt by Elizabeth Woodville to take power, Richard escorted Edward V to the capital in May with Edward's coronation fixed for 22 Jun and lodged him in the royal residence at the Tower, to be joined later by his younger brother Richard. However, Edward V's brief reign came to an end on 26 Jun, when parliament accepted Gloucester's claim that Edward IV's marriage was invalid and his children illegitimate on the grounds that Edward IV had a marriage contract with Lady Eleanor Butler before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. Parliament proclaimed Gloucester Richard III.

Soon afterwards, the two princes disappeared from the Tower. It is possible they were murdered by Richard III's agents in Aug 1483, but responsibility for the crime has also been attributed to Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, and to Richard's successor, Henry VII. Skeletons found in the Tower in 1674, thought to be those of Edward and his brother, were later buried in Westminster Abbey.

Deeman

Edward V coinage

The halved sun and rose initial mark (refer to Edward IV second reign illustration or SR1 under Richard III) was first introduced on 12 Feb 1483 at the end of Edward IV's second reign. It continued through the short reign of Edward V and into the first 24 days of the reign of Richard III, ending on July 20. The only definitive coin that can be attributed to Edward V, by the sequence of dies, is the angel. The half-angel and silver coinage cannot be distinguished between Edward IV or Edward V.

All denominations listed below have a halved sun and rose initial mark on each side or on just the obverse in the case of small silver. They have an attribution to either Edward IV or Edward V, with the exception of the angel.

Five denominations were struck at the London mint:
Angel, reading EDWARD DI GRA for Edward V (EDWARD DEI GRA for Edward IV).
Half-angel.
Groat.
Penny and halfpenny.

Deeman

Edward V angel and half-angel

The obverse of the angel and half angel depicts archangel St. Michael, winged and haloed, vanquishing the dragon, within a circumscription translating to 'Edward by the Grace of God, king of England and France' for the angel, without 'France' for the half-angel. The reverse design is an English galley with the monogram 'Є' and a rose set below the main topmast, the ship surmounted by square-topped shield bearing the King's arms, all within a circumscription. The reverse inscription of an angel is of PER CRVCE TVA SALVA NOS XPC REDEMPTOR or abbreviations thereof translating to 'By Thy cross save us, O Christ Redeemer'. The reverse inscription of a half-angel is O CRVX AVE SPES VNICA or abbreviations thereof translating to 'Hail thou cross my only hope'.





1483 angel, Edward V attribution, London, halved sun and rose initial marks. (Extremely rare.)
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, double saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is PЄR / CRVCЄ TVA SALVA' nOS XPC' RЄDЄmPT', saltire stops.





1483 half-angel, Edward IV or V, London, halved sun and rose initial marks.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL, double saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is O / CRVX AVЄ SPЄS VnICA, saltire stops.

Deeman

Edward IV or V groat

The obverse of the groat depicts a crowned bust facing within a nine-arched double tressure, all within a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, which translates to 'Edward by the Grace of God, king of England and France'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée, upon twin concentric inscriptions divided across the quadrants of the cross, with a trefoil of pellets in each inner angle. The outer inscription, commencing with an initial mark, is POSVI DEVM ADIVTOREM MEVM or abbreviations thereof translating to 'I have made God my helper' from Psalm 54.4, and the inner inscription identifies the mint.





1483 groat, Edward IV or V, London, halved sun and rose initial marks.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWRD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, saltire stops, fleurs on six tressure cusps. Second groat reads ЄDWARD.
Reverse inscriptions are [POSVI / DЄVm A] / DIVTOR / Є' mЄVm,; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, saltire stops.





1483 groat, Edward IV or V, London, halved sun and rose initial marks.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, saltire stops, fleurs on six tressure cusps, pellet below breast.
Reverse inscriptions are [POSVI / DЄVm A] / DIVTOR / Є' mЄVm; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, saltire stops.

Deeman

Edward IV or V penny and halfpenny

The obverse design is a bust facing and a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, which translates to translates to 'Edward by the Grace of God, king of England' for pennies and 'Edward by the Grace of God, king' for halfpennies. The reverse design is a long cross pattée dividing the coin into four quadrants with a circumscription, identifying the London mint, split across the quadrants, with each inner quadrant having a trio of pellets.





1483 penny, Edward IV or V, London, halved sun and rose initial mark.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL, no stops.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1483 halfpenny, Edward IV or V, London, halved sun and rose initial mark.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DЄI GRA RЄX, no stops.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.

Deeman

Richard III

Richard III was King of England, and Lord of Ireland, from 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty.

Richard III deposed his nephew, the young Edward V, on receiving evidence that Edward IV had a marriage contract with Lady Eleanor Butler before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, thus making all of Edward and Elizabeth's children illegitimate.

On becoming king, Richard attempted genuine reconciliation with the Yorkists by showing consideration to Lancastrians purged from office by Edward IV, and moved Henry VI's body to St George's Chapel at Windsor. The first laws written entirely in English were passed during his reign. In 1484, Richard's only legitimate son, Edward, predeceased him, and his wife passed away in March the following year.

After his coronation, Richard set off on a progress around his kingdom. While he was away, news reached him of an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the princes from the Tower. It has been suggested that this led Richard to order their deaths, for after August the two boys were never seen again.

Before becoming king, Richard had had a strong power base in the north, and his reliance on northerners during his reign was to increase resentment in the south. Richard concluded a truce with Scotland to reduce his commitments in the north. Nevertheless, resentment against Richard grew.

On 7 Aug 1485, Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian exile, landed at Milford Haven in Wales with a small army of French mercenaries, former Yorkists and diehard Lancastrians to claim the throne. Nineteen months earlier, he had strengthened his appeal to disaffected Yorkists by promising to marry Edward IV's daughter, Elizabeth, were he to gain the throne. Richard was reportedly delighted by the news of the landing as victory over Tudor would rid him of a troublesome focus of opposition.

On 22 Aug, in a two-hour battle at Bosworth, Henry's forces (assisted by Lord Stanley's private army of around 7,000 which was deliberately posted so that he could join the winning side) defeated Richard's larger army and Richard was killed, finding himself unhorsed, he was cut down.

Many myths persist about the last Plantagenet king, whose remains were discovered beneath a Leicester car park in 2012. Three years later he was reburied in Leicester Cathedral.

Deeman

Richard III coinage

The coinage of Richard III follows the pattern of previous reigns.

Seven denominations were struck during Richard III's reign:
Angel and half-angel (London mint).
Groat (London and York mints).
Half-groat, halfpenny and farthing (London mint).
Penny (London and Durham & York episcopal mints).

The following initial marks were used:



Issue dates with marks applicable to specific mints duly identified:
1483-85: lis – Durham; rose – York.
1483: halved sun and rose 1.
1483-84: boar's head 1; boar's head 2.
1484-85: halved sun and rose 2; halved sun and rose 3.

Initial marks by denomination. Where initial marks are on both sides and differ, the initial marks are listed with an oblique separator with obverse listed first. Small silver only has an initial mark on the obverse.

Angel:
London: Halved sun and rose 1; boar's head 1 / halved sun and rose 1; boar's head 1; boar's head 2.

Half-angel:
London: Boar's head 1.

Groat:
London: halved sun and rose 1; boar's head 1 / halved sun and rose 1; boar's head 1; boar's head 2; halved sun and rose 2; halved sun and rose 3.
York royal: halved sun and rose 2 (obverse only). York royal mint was re-opened for the striking of groats.

Half-groat:
London: Boar's head 1; boar's head 2; halved sun and rose 2.

Penny:
London: boar's head 1.
Durham: lis.
York episcopal: boar's head 2; rose; halved sun and rose 2.

Halfpenny:
London: Boar's head 1; rose; halved sun and rose 2.

Farthing:
London: Boar's head 1; rose; halved sun and rose 2.

Deeman

Richard III angel and half-angel

Only a handful of half-angel coins are known. An indenture of the 20 Jul 1483 with Robert Brackenbury who was Richard's Ducal Treasurer allows for the two denominations. Across the entire reign of 26 months, and just over a month beyond, there is a record of just a mere 1,301 lbs of gold struck, mostly into angels presumably.

The obverse of the angel and half-angel depicts archangel St. Michael, winged and haloed, vanquishing the dragon, within a circumscription translating to 'Richard by the Grace of God, king of England and France' for the angel, without 'France' for the half-angel. The reverse design is an English galley with the monogram 'R' and a rose set below the main topmast, the ship surmounted by square-topped shield bearing the King's arms, all within a circumscription. The reverse inscription of an angel is of PER CRVCE TVA SALVA NOS XPC REDEMPTOR or abbreviations thereof translating to 'By Thy cross save us, O Christ Redeemer'. The reverse inscription of a half-angel is O CRVX AVE SPES VNICA or abbreviations thereof translating to 'Hail thou cross my only hope'.





1483-84 angel type 2b, London.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAnC, boar's head 1 initial mark, double saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is PЄR / CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ RЄDЄmPT, halved sun and rose 1 initial mark, saltire stops.





1483-84 angel type 2b, London, boar's head 2 initial marks.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAnC, double saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is PЄR / CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ RЄDЄm, saltire stops.





1485 angel type 3, London, halved sun and rose 2 initial marks.
Obverse inscription is RICAD DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAnC, double saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is PЄR / CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ RЄDЄm, double saltire stops.





1483-84 half-angel type 2b, London, boar's head 1 initial marks.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL, double saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is O / CRVX AVЄ SPЄS VnICA, saltire stops.

Deeman

Richard III groat and half-groat

The obverse of the groat and half-groat depicts a crowned bust facing within a nine-arched double tressure, all within a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, which translates to 'Richard by the Grace of God, king of England and France'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée, upon twin concentric inscriptions divided across the quadrants of the cross, with a trefoil of pellets in each inner angle. The outer inscription, commencing with an initial mark, is POSVI DEVM ADIVTOREM MEVM or abbreviations thereof translating to 'I have made God my helper' from Psalm 54.4, and the inner inscription identifies the mint.
A groat issue with boar's head 1 initial mark exists in the name of Edward V.
A half-groat issue also exists in the name of Edward V with boar's head 1 initial mark. Half-groats have no reverse initial mark.





1483 groat, type 1, London, halved sun and rose 1 initial marks.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI G RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, saltire stops, fleurs on six tressure cusps.
Reverse inscriptions are POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, no stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1483-84 groat, type 2a, London, Edward V lettering.
Obverse inscription is ЄDWARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, boar's head 1 (over halved sun and rose 1) initial mark, saltire stops, fleurs on seven tressure cusps, pellet below breast.
Reverse inscriptions are [POSVI] / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn. Initial mark would have been a halved sun and rose 1 before POSVI.





1483-84 groat, type 2b, London, boar's head initial marks.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, saltire stops, fleurs on six tressure cusps.
Reverse inscriptions are POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, double saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.
Left groat has boar's head 1 initial mark on both sides. Right groat has boar's head 2 initial mark on both sides.





1484-85 groat, type 3, London, halved sun and rose 2 initial marks.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI G RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, saltire stops, fleurs on six tressure cusps.
Reverse inscriptions are POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, double saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1484-85 groat, type 3, York royal, obverse halved sun and rose 2 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, saltire stops, fleurs on six tressure cusps.
Reverse inscriptions are POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, double saltire stops, no initial mark; CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI.





1483-84 half-groat, type 2b, London, obverse boar's head 2 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRA, fleurs on six tressure cusps.
Reverse inscriptions are POSVI / DЄVmA / DIVTOR / ЄmЄVm, no stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1484-85 half-groat, type 3, London, obverse halved sun and rose 2 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR, fleurs on six tressure cusps.
Reverse inscriptions are POSVI / DЄVmA / DIVTOR / ЄmЄVm, no stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.

Deeman

Richard III penny

The obverse design is a bust facing and a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, which translates to 'Richard by the Grace of God, king of England'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée dividing the coin into four quadrants circumscribed by an inscription, identifying the mint, split across the quadrants, with each inner quadrant having a trio of pellets.
London issues are extremely rare. A London issue also exists in the name of Edward V with boar's head 1 initial mark.





1483-84 penny type 2b, London, boar's head 1 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX AnG, no stops.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1483-85 penny, Durham, lis initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD [DI GRA RЄX] AnG, 'S' on breast, no stops. Bishop Sherwood 1483-94.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / [DVR] / hAm, 'D' in centre of cross.





1483-84 penny, York episcopal, boar's head 2 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI [GRA] RЄX AnG, no stops, 'T' and key flanking bust. Archbishop Thomas de Rotherham 1480-1500.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / [TAS] / ЄBO / RACI, quatrefoil at centre of cross.





1483-85 penny, York episcopal.
As above York penny, but rose initial mark and extra pellet in two quadrants.

Deeman

Richard III halfpenny and farthing

The obverse design is a bust facing and a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, which translates to 'Richard by the Grace of God, king'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée dividing the coin into four quadrants with a circumscription, identifying the London mint, split across the quadrants, with each inner quadrant having a trio of pellets.





1483-84 halfpenny type 2b, London, boar's head 1 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX, no stops.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1484-85 halfpenny type 3, London, halved sun and rose 2 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX, no stops.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.





1483-84 farthing type 2b, London, boar's head 1 initial mark.
Obverse inscription is RICARD DI GRA RЄX, no stops.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.