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Anglo-Gallic Coinage

Started by Deeman, July 04, 2023, 04:34:10 PM

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Deeman

There is an excellent book entitled 'Anglo-Gallic Coins' by S D Ford and P & B R Withers which provides a very in-depth study of the subject, and provides far more information than that given in this thread and, for which, was a great source for the imagery used. The ISBN number is 978-1-908715-07-4, available worldwide and direct from the publishers, Galata.

Introduction

Anglo-Gallic coinage, namely those coins struck in France by the kings and princes of England between 1154 and 1453, covering the reigns of the Angevin Plantagenets and the Lancastrian Plantagenets to Henry VI.

Henry V was the first English king to issue French regal coins. The other Anglo-Gallic coinages belong to the French feudal era. French law prohibited feudal lords from striking silver coins prior to 1324.

Edward III was the first king to strike gold coinage in France. The issue of base billon coinage (very low silver content) commenced with Edward III and terminated with Henry VI. The term 'silver' is used to identify coinage with a silver content above 25% nominally and 'billon' to identify those with silver content nominally below 25%. To be technically correct the term 'silver' should only be used when the silver content is not below 50%.

Until 1752, the year ended on 24 Mar. So, for any dates noted between 1 Jan and 24 Mar two years are given, e.g., 6 Feb 1422/3, the former being the year at that time, the latter being the year adjusted to the present time.

Angevin Plantagenets

The Angevins (demonym for residents of Anjou) ruled from 1154 to 1399. The surname Plantagenet seems to have derived from a nickname adopted by Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, the father of Henry II and refers to his habit of wearing a sprig of broom or planta genista in his helmet.

The Anglo-Gallic coinage periods of the Angevin dynasty are:
Henry II 'Curtmantle' 1154-68 (gave up Aquitaine to son Richard in 1168).
Prince Richard Cœur de Lion, Duke of Aquitaine, eldest son of Henry II, 1172-85 (Aquitaine issues).
Richard I 'Cœur de Lion' 1189-99 (Issoudun and Poitou issues).
Eleanor of Aquitaine (Henry II's widow) 1189-99 (death of Henry to death of Richard).
Prince Edward, Duke of Aquitaine (son of Henry III) 1252-72.
Edward I 'Longshanks' 1272-1307.
Edward II 1307-26/7.
Edward III 1326/7-62 (up to appointment of Edward the Black Prince as Prince of Aquitaine).
Henry, 4th Earl of Lancaster (cousin of Edward III), 1347-50/1.
Henry, 1st Duke of Lancaster 1350/1-60/1.
Edward the Black Prince (eldest son of Edward III), Prince of Aquitaine 1362-72.
Richard II (son of Edward the Black Prince) 1377-90 (up to Richard's uncle being made Duke of Aquitaine).

There are no Anglo-Gallic coins for John 'Lackland', son of Henry II, 1199-1216.
There are no Anglo-Gallic coins directly attributable to Henry III 1216-72.
There appears to be no coins attributable to Edward III from 1372 after the Black Prince had surrendered the rights to Aquitaine up to his death in 1377, apart from a hardi d'argent that was apparently reported to be in the collection of the Municipality of Bordeaux but which has subsequently disappeared.
Richard II's uncle, John of Gaunt, was made the Duke of Aquitaine in 1390, but there is no evidence of coinage in his name.

Lancastrian Plantagenets

In 1399, whilst Richard was in Ireland, Henry of Bolingbroke returned to claim his father's inheritance. Supported by some of the leading baronial families, Henry captured and deposed Richard and was crowned Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king.

The issue of Anglo-Gallic coinage ceased in 1451. Henry VI inherited the long-running Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), in which his uncle Charles VII contested his claim to the French throne. His early reign, when several people were ruling for him, saw the pinnacle of English power in France, but subsequent military, diplomatic, and economic problems had seriously endangered the English cause by the time Henry was declared fit to rule in 1437. His ineffective reign saw the gradual loss of the English lands in France. Partially in the hope of achieving peace, in 1445 Henry married Charles VII's niece, Margaret of Anjou. The peace policy failed, leading to the murder of one of Henry's key advisers, William de la Pole, first Duke of Suffolk, and the war recommenced, with France taking the upper hand. By 1453, Calais was Henry's only remaining territory on the continent.

The Anglo-Gallic coinage periods of the Lancastrian dynasty are:
Henry IV 'Bolingbroke' 1399-1412/3. The last French feudal gold coinage ceased before 1427, silver until 1439 and black to 1451. As to which Henry, IV, V or VI, such coins belong is not known. Images are entered under Henry IV.
Henry V 1412/3-22. First French regal coinage.
Henry VI 1422-51 (just before the end of the Hundred Years' War in 1453).

Deeman

Henry II

Henry II was the first English monarch to strike coinage for his French domains. He was the great grandson of William the Conqueror, husband to Eleanor of Aquitaine and father of Richard the Lionheart and John. He was known as Henry Curtmantle because he liked to wear short hunting style jackets instead of long robes. He was the eldest son of Geoffrey Plantagenet (Count of Anjou from 1129 and Duke of Normandy from 1144), from whom he inherited the Earldom of Anjou and Touraine and, of his mother Empress Matilda, derived Normandy and Maine. In 1152, he married Eleanor of Aquitaine, the greatest heiress in western Europe, and became Duke of Aquitaine and Earl of Poitou. In 1153, he crossed to England to pursue his claim to the throne, reaching an agreement that he would succeed Stephen on his death, which occurred in 1154.

The land under Henry's control became known as the 'Angevin' or 'Plantagenet' empire and was at its greatest extent in 1173 when Henry faced the biggest threat in all of his reign. Family disputes over territorial ambitions almost wrecked the king's achievements. Henry's sons opposed their father's intention to split his lands equally amongst them. The final few years of Henry's reign up until his death in 1189, were tormented by disputes with his sons. He had fashioned a large empire and made England a powerful nation. Yet in the attempts of his sons to keep the Angevin Empire from being divided, they inadvertently began the process which tore it apart through their constant bickering.

Deeman

Henry II Coinage

Of all Henry's other Gallic territories (Normandy, Anjou, Maine, Touraine and Poitou), his coinage is only known to have been struck in Aquitaine, in or before 1168 as in that year he gave up Aquitaine to his son Prince Richard Cœur de Lion. Undoubtedly, coinage was struck in his other territories, but they would have been exactly the same as those of his predecessors and therefore not attributable.

Denier and obole coins have been attributed to Henry II. There are two types of obole, one having an inverted omega on the reverse which possibly belongs to Henry III instead, but with the uncertainty it is listed under Henry II.

Denier

The denier had a diameter of 17mm, fineness 0.25. The obverse design is a cross pattée within an inner beaded circle around which is an inscription translating to 'King Henry'. The reverse has 'Aquitaine' in three lines across the field.

Henry II denier, Bordeaux, S8001.jpg

1154-68 denier.
Obverse circumscription is + hENRICVS REX.
Reverse inscription is + / AQVI / TAIn / Є, annulets flanking '+' and 'Є'.

Obole

The denier had a diameter of 13mm, fineness 0.25. There were two types:

Type 1 has the same design as the denier. No image, extremely rare.

Type 2 obverse design is a cross pattée within an inner beaded circle, annulet in first and fourth quarters, around which is an inscription translating to 'Henry'. The reverse has 'REX' across the field, inverted omega above, cross below.

Henry II obole type 2, Bordeaux, S8003.jpg

1154-68 obole type 2.
Obverse circumscription is + ENRICVS.
Reverse inscription is REX.

Deeman

Richard I

Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart, is one of the most iconic English kings of the last millennium. In Jun 1172, at age 14, Richard was formally recognised as the Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou.

Prior to becoming king, Richard even took part in a rebellion alongside his mother and two of his brothers against his father, Henry II, on behalf of Aquitaine. Henry II wanted to give Aquitaine to his youngest son, John. Richard refused and, in 1189, joined forces with Philip II of France against his father, hounding him to a premature death in July of that year. Though relationships with his father were frayed, the death of his older brother left Richard as heir to England's throne.

As king, Richard's chief ambition was to join the Third Crusade, prompted by Saladin's capture of Jerusalem in 1187 and, in 1190, he departed for the Holy Land. After victories over Saladin at the siege of Acre and the battles of Arsuf and Jaffa, concluded by the Treaty of Jaffa in 1192, Richard was returning from the Holy Land when he was captured in Austria. Bad weather drove him ashore near Venice and he was imprisoned by Duke Leopold of Austria before being handed over to the German emperor Henry VI, who ransomed him for 150,000 marks which was paid for by his brother, John, who had spent the years of Richard's absence scheming against him. In 1194, Richard was released and upon his return to England, Richard reclaimed the throne fearing that the ransom payment had compromised his independence. John fled to the French court.

Yet a month later he was crossing the channel to defend his various territories against Phillip Augustus of France. Five years later he died on 6 Apr 1199 in France during a minor siege of the castle of Châlus against a rebellious baron. By the time of his death, Richard had recovered all his lands. Alas, all Richard's efforts proved to be in vain. In 1199 his brother John became king and Philip successfully invaded Normandy. By 1203, John had retreated to England, losing his French lands of Normandy and Anjou by 1205.

As king, Richard spent as little as six months of his 10-year reign in England. He spoke French and Occitan, but never learned English. Rather than regarding his kingdom as a responsibility requiring his presence as ruler, it seems he saw it primarily as a source of revenue to support his armies.

Deeman

Richard I Coinage

The only coins of Richard struck in his own name are those of his French possessions. English issues attributed to Richard are all in the name and types of his father.

He struck coinage in Aquitaine, Poitou and Issoudun. As the title of Rex is omitted on the Aquitaine coins, they were probably struck in the Duchy before Richard's accession to the English throne. The Aquitaine issues were struck between 1168 and 1185. In 1185 Henry II forced Richard to surrender his titles to his mother, who ruled over those lands when he was absent. Denominations struck were the denier and obole.

The Poitou issues were struck between 1189 and 1196 at the Poitiers mint. In 1196, Richard enfeoffed Poitou to Otto (later emperor Otto IV). Denominations struck were the denier and obole.

Issoudun passed between the kingdoms of France and England toward the end of the 12th century. It passed to the English in 1195 by the Treaty of Gaillon, when Richard defended it from the advances of Philippe II. Only the denier was struck.

Deeman

Prince Richard, Duke of Aquitaine Coinage

Denier & Obole

The denier had a diameter of 17-18mm, obole 14mm, fineness varying between 0.33 and 0.25. The issue had very many varieties of lettering. Two obverse designs exist for each denomination. Type 1 has a cross above and omega below the inscription. Type 2 has an inverted omega above and cross below the inscription.

The obverse design has 'RICARDVS' in two lines across the field. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle with the circumscription 'Aquitaine'.

Richard I denier, type 1, S8004.jpg

1168-85 denier, Aquitaine type 1.
Obverse circumscription is + RICA / RDVS, central pellet.
Reverse inscription is + AQVITAINE, cross above and omega below.

Richard I denier, type 2, S8006.jpg

1168-85 denier, Aquitaine type 2.
Obverse circumscription is + RICA / RDVS, central pellet.
Reverse inscription is + AQVITAINE, inverted omega above and cross below.

Richard I obole, type 1, S8005.jpg

1168-85 obole, Aquitaine type 1.
Obverse circumscription is + RICA / RDVS, central pellet.
Reverse inscription is + AQVITAINE, cross above and omega below.

Deeman

Richard I Poitou Coinage

Denier

The denier had a diameter of 18-20mm, fineness varying between 0.33 and 0.25. The obverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle with the circumscription translating to 'King Richard'. The obverse design has 'PICTAVIENSIS' (Pictaviens, inhabitants of Pictavi, old Gallic tribe from the region) in three lines across the field.

There are five varieties:
No annulet in cross, with pellet, annulet, bar or arrowhead (wedge) in various locations on the reverse, or no mark.
Cross with annulet in first quarter, no mark on reverse.
Cross with annulet in second quarter, no mark on reverse.
Cross with annulet in third quarter, with pellet or arrowhead (wedge) in various locations on the reverse, or no mark.
Cross with annulet in fourth quarter, no mark or pellet above 'C' on the reverse.

Richard I denier, Poitou, no mark, S8008.jpg

1189-96 denier, Poitou.
Obverse circumscription is + RICARDVS REX, no annulet.
Reverse inscription is + PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, no mark.

Richard I denier, Poitou, arrowhead right below NSIS, S8008.jpg

1189-96 denier, Poitou.
Obverse circumscription is + RICARDVS REX, no annulet.
Reverse inscription is + PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, arrowhead to right below NSIS.

Richard I denier, Poitou, annulet above PIC, S8008.jpg

1189-96 denier, Poitou.
Obverse circumscription is + RICARDVS REX, no annulet.
Reverse inscription is + PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, annulet above PIC.

Richard I denier, Poitou, annulet in third quarter, S8008.jpg

1189-96 denier, Poitou.
Obverse circumscription is + RICARDVS REX, annulet in third quarter.
Reverse inscription is + PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, no mark.

Obole

The obole had a diameter of 13-15mm, fineness varying between 0.33 and 0.25. The obverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle with the circumscription translating to 'King Richard'. The obverse design has 'PICTAVIENSIS' (Pictaviens) in three lines across the field. The design is the same as the denier.

There are two varieties known:
No annulet in cross, pellet, annulet or arrowhead (wedge) on the reverse, or no mark.
Cross with annulet in third quarter, no mark on reverse.

Richard I obole, Poitou, annulet above PIC, S8009.jpg

1189-96 obole, Poitou.
Obverse circumscription is + RICARDVS REX, no annulet.
Reverse inscription is + PIC / TAVIE / NSIS, annulet above PIC.

Deeman

Richard I Issoudun Coinage

The denier had a diameter of 18mm. The obverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle with the circumscription translating to 'King Richard'. The obverse design has a central inverted omega, bar above and 'O'? or annulet below, within an inner circle and the circumscription ЄXOLDVNI (Exoldunum, Latin for Issoudun which existed in and before Roman times).

Richard I denier, Issoudun, S8010..jpg Richard I denier, Issoudun, S8010.jpg

1195-99 denier.
Obverse circumscription is + RICARD' RЄX.
Reverse inscription is + ЄXOLDVNI.

Deeman

Eleanor of Aquitaine

A magnificent independent ruler in her own right, she lost her power when she married Louis VII of France. She received neither influence nor fame by her second marriage to Henry II, and he jailed her in 1173 for supporting the revolt of their eldest son. When Henry was succeeded by their son, Richard I, he immediately released his mother from prison. Eleanor then acted as regent while Richard launched the Third Crusade.

Following the death of her husband, Henry II, in 1189 and her son's accession to the English throne, Eleanor again assumed the title of Duchess of Aquitaine which gave her the right to issue money. Denier and obole coins have been attributed to her, although non bear her name.

Denier & Obole

The denier had a diameter of 18mm, obole 14mm. The obverse design has two cross pattées across the centre, inverted omega above and unbarred 'A' below, within an inner circle and the circumscription DVCISIT which is thought to be a derivation of dvcis[sa] it[ervm], meaning 'Duchess again'. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle with the circumscription 'Aquitaine', either spelt 'Agvitanie' or 'Aqvitanie' on the denier, only known spelt 'Agvitanie' for the obole.

No image for the obole. Very rare.

Eleanor of Aquitaine denier, AGVITANIE, S8011.jpg

1189-99 denier.
Obverse circumscription is + DVCISIT.
Reverse inscription is + AGVITAINE.

Eleanor of Aquitaine denier, AQVITANIE, S8011.jpg

1189-99 denier.
Obverse circumscription is + DVCISIT.
Reverse inscription is + AQVITAINE.

Deeman

#9
Edward I

Born in Jun 1239 at Westminster, Edward was named by his father Henry III after the last Anglo Saxon king, Edward the Confessor.

In 1254, Edward travelled to Spain for an arranged marriage at the age of 15 to 13-year-old Eleanor of Castile. Just before Edward's marriage, Henry III gave him the Duchy of Gascony in 1252, which he ruled as Duke of Aquitaine in his capacity as a vassal of the French king.

Ponthieu in northern France came to Edward I through his wife, Eleanor of Castile, forming part of the dowry. In 1254, English fears of a Castilian invasion of the English-held province of Gascony induced Henry III to arrange a politically expedient marriage between fifteen-year-old Edward and thirteen-year-old Eleanor, the half-sister of King Alfonso X of Castile. They were married on 1 Nov 1254 and as part of the marriage agreement, Alfonso X gave up his claims to Gascony. The marriage eventually led to the English acquisition of Ponthieu in 1279 upon Eleanor's inheritance of the county.

His father, Henry III, died on 16 Nov 1272 whilst Edward was en route from the Crusades in the Holy Land. Instead of rushing home he paid homage to the Pope and visited Gascony on the way back to England. In Edward's absence, a proclamation in his name declared that he had succeeded by hereditary right, and the barons swore allegiance to him. Edward finally arrived in London in Aug 1274 and was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

In 1292, an accidental quarrel between English and French sailors increased to regular engagements between large fleets equipped by individuals and it became necessary for the monarchs to take cognisance of this irregular warfare. Phillipe IV, irritated by their numerous defeats, demanded reparation for the damage sustained. Upon refusal by Edward, Phillipe summoned Edward as a vassal to make appearance at his courts and led to Edward ceding his Gallic territories to Phillipe in 1294. Edward had been occupied by the affairs of Scotland, and it wasn't until 1297 that he could eventually turn his attention to regaining his lost territories, which he achieved by 1302.

Edward I died on 7 Jul 1307 at Burgh-by-Sands near Carlisle. Edward II, in or close to London, heard the news on the 11th being delivered by a messenger who travelled 315 miles in four days.

Deeman

Edward I Coinage

Prince Edward, in his capacity as Duke of Aquitaine, struck both deniers and oboles au lion in 1253 bearing the title 'Edward, son of Henry, King of England'.

In 1274, Edward issued new deniers and oboles au lion coinage in the same design with the title 'King Edward, Duke of Aquitaine'.

In 1285, the denier au lion was revised, the short cross pattée being replace with a long cross pattée on the reverse.

In 1291, deniers and oboles au léopard were struck until 1294 when Philippe IV confiscated the duchy.
The Bordeaux mint reopened in 1305 when new deniers and oboles au léopard were struck with a slightly modified design.

Edward I coined money for his Earldom of Ponthieu at the Abbeville mint between 1279 and 1290.

Deeman

Prince Edward, Duke of Aquitaine Coinage

Denier & Obole au Lion

The denier au lion had a diameter of 18mm, obole 14mm, fineness 0.33. The obverse design is a lion left facing within an inner circle with a circumscription. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle with a circumscription. The circumscriptions together, starting with the obverse, translate to 'Edward, son of Henry, King of England'. The denier issue had many varieties in the style of the lion.

Prince Edward denier au lion, spikey tail, S8013.jpg

1253-72 denier au lion, Aquitaine.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄDVVARD' [FI]LI, spikey (fishbone) tail.
Reverse inscription is + h RЄGIS ANGLIЄ.

Prince Edward denier au lion, pellets for mane, S8013.jpg

1253-72 denier au lion, Aquitaine.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄDVVARD' FILI, pellets for mane.
Reverse inscription is + h RЄGIS ANGLIЄ.

Prince Edward denier au lion, pellets for mane, pellets in tail, S8013.jpg

1253-72 denier au lion, Aquitaine.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄDVVARD' FILI', pellets for mane, pellets in tail.
Reverse inscription is + h RЄGIS ANGLIЄ.

Prince Edward denier au lion, pellets in tail, S8013.jpg

1253-72 denier au lion, Aquitaine.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄDVVARD' FILI', pellets in tail.
Reverse inscription is + h RЄGI[S A]NGLIЄ.

Prince Edward obole au lion, S8014.jpg

1253-72 obole au lion, Aquitaine.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄDVVARD' [FIL]I.
Reverse inscription is + h RЄGIS [A]NGLIЄ.

Deeman

Edward I Aquitaine Coinage

Denier & Obole au Lion (short cross)

The denier au lion had a diameter of 18mm, obole 14mm, fineness 0.33. The obverse design is a lion left facing within an inner circle with a circumscription translating to 'Edward, King of England'. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle with a circumscription which translates to 'Duke of Aquitaine'.

Edward I denier au lion, short cross, S8015.jpg

1274-85 denier au lion, short cross.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄDVVARDVS RЄX.
Reverse inscription is + DVX AQVITANIЄ.

Edward I obole au lion, short cross, S8016.jpg

1274-85 obole au lion, short cross.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄD[VVARD]VS RЄX.
Reverse inscription is + DVX AQV[ITAN]IЄ.

Denier au Lion (long cross)

The denier au lion had a diameter of 17mm, fineness 0.33. The obverse design is a lion left facing within an inner circle with a circumscription translating to 'Edward, King of England'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée within an inner circle dividing a circumscription which translates to 'Duke of Aquitaine, Bordeaux' (Burdegale, Latin for Bordeaux).

Edward I denier au lion, long cross, S8017.jpg

1285-91 denier au lion, long cross, Bordeaux mint.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄDWARD' [R] ANGL.
Reverse inscription is + DVX / AQI / T BV / RDЄ.

Deeman

Edward I Denier & Obole au Léopard ('Є' in cross)

The denier au léopard had a diameter of 17-18mm, obole 14mm. The obverse design has 'AGL' between two lines with lion left above and 'Є' below, within an inner circle and a circumscription translating to 'Edward, King of England' including lettering below the lion. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle, 'Є' in first quarter upright or slanting for both denier and obole, denier variety with 'Є' in second quarter upright or slanting. The circumscription translates to 'Duke of Aquitaine, Bordeaux'.

Edward I denier au léopard, upright Є first quarter, S8018.jpg

1291-94 denier au léopard, Bordeaux mint.
Obverse circumscription is + EDWARDVS REX.
Reverse circumscription is + DVX AQIT' BVRD, upright 'Є' first quarter.

Edward I denier au léopard, slanting Є first quarter, S8018.jpg

1291-94 denier au léopard, Bordeaux mint.
Obverse circumscription is + EDWARDVS REX.
Reverse circumscription is + DVX AQIT' BVRD, slanting 'Є' first quarter.

Edward I obole au léopard, Є first quarter, S8019.jpg

1291-94 obole au léopard, Bordeaux mint.
Obverse circumscription is + EDWARDVS REX.
Reverse circumscription is + DVX AQIT BVRD, upright 'Є' first quarter.

Deeman

Edward I Denier & Obole au Léopard ('Є' and crescent in cross)

The denier au léopard had a diameter of 17-18mm, obole 13mm. The obverse design has 'AGL' or 'AGI' between two lines with lion left above and 'Є' below, within an inner circle and a circumscription translating to 'Edward, King of England' including lettering below the lion. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle, 'Є' in first quarter and crescent in second, denier variety with 'Є' and crescent sideways in second and fourth quarters respectively. The circumscription translates to 'Duke of Aquitaine, Bordeaux'.

Edward I denier au léopard, Є first quarter, crescent second, S8020.jpg

1305-07 denier au léopard, Bordeaux mint.
Obverse circumscription is + EDWARDVS REX.
Reverse circumscription is + DVX AQIT' BVRD, 'Є' first quarter, crescent second.

Edward I denier au léopard, Є sideways second quarter, crescent sideways fourth, S8020.jpg

1305-07 denier au léopard, Bordeaux mint.
Obverse circumscription is + EDWARDVS REX.
Reverse circumscription is + DVX AQIT BVRD, 'Є' sideways second quarter, crescent sideways fourth.

Edward I obole au léopard, Є first quarter, crescent second, S8021.jpg

1305-07 obole au léopard, Bordeaux mint.
Obverse circumscription is + EDWARDVS REX.
Reverse circumscription is + DVX AQIT' BVRD, 'Є' first quarter, crescent second.