Bust of Athena right / Owl standing left

Boldly struck with excellent detail, a fine example of Classical art at its best.

24mm, 17.23g

Obverse description: Head of Athena (goddess of wisdom) right, wearing earring, necklace and crested Attic helmet decorated with olive leaves.
Reverse description: Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers; olive sprig and crescent to left, AOE to right; all within incuse square.

Attica is a historical region of Greece that encompasses the city of Athens. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean Sea, bordering on Boeotia to the north and Megaris to the west.

The Athenian ‘owl’ silver tetradrachm is one of the most influential coins of all time. During the 5th Century BC, when Athens emerged as the greatest of all Greek cities ‘owls’ were the most widely used international coin and helped spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world. The peak of Athens success, between 510-400 BC, witnessed the birth of democracy, construction of the Parthenon, pinnacle of Classical art and the origins of Western literature. Never before or since has one city contributed so much to human progress.

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Class 10 CF5

London

S1414; 18mm, 1.38g

Edward was one of the great warrior kings of the Middle Ages. Also known as Longshanks on account of his height and as the Hammer of the Scots he initially rebelled against his father, Henry III, but was loyal during the Barons war. Captured by the barons he quickly escaped and defeated and killed the baron’s leader Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham in AD 1265. Effectively acting as Regent for the remainder of Henry’s reign Edward away on a Crusade when Henry died in AD 1272. During the early part of his reign he campaigned against the Welsh eventually conquering the country and installing his son, Edward II, as Prince of Wales. Many of the castles in Wales and the borders were built by Edward to help garrison the country.
Initially Edwards relations with Scotland were amical however after the death of Alexander III there was a crisis of succession. When John Balliol was eventually chosen to succeed his refusal accept Edward as overlord or to provide troops for Edwards campaign against France resulted in Edward’s invasion of Scotland in AD 1296. He beat the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar and captured Berwick upon Tweed. John Balliol was deposed and Edward also removed Scottish Coronation stone from Scone and took it back to Westminster.
The following year the Scots under William Wallace defeated the English. Edward returned to Scotland and eventually succeeded in capturing Wallace who was transported back to London where he was hung, drawn and quartered. The Scots then rallied under Robert the Bruce. Edward was on his way back to Scotland when he died near Carlisle.
Edward was instrumental in the establishment of Parliament and also for carrying out various Legal reforms. He also is known for his persecution of the English Jews and their eventual expulsion in AD 1290 following a long running dispute with the church.
During Edwards reign the great recoinage of AD 1279 saw Short Cross pennies being replaced by the Long Cross Penny in an attempt to prevent coins from being clipped. Silver Halfpennies and Farthings were introduced for the first time as well as a Silver Groat although in the case the groat the issue was soon withdrawn. There were also coin issues minted in Ireland whilst Edward was king and also Lord of Ireland prior to his accession. In the Anglo Gallic series coins in Edwards name were issued in both Aquitaine and Ponthieu.

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Long Cross type

Ion / Bury St Edmunds

S1363; 17mm, 1.33g

Henry was only 9 years old when he became king and initially there was a Regency with William Marshall effectively in charge. After an unsuccessful attempt of invasion by the French in AD 1217 was defeated off Sandwich and eventually peace was restored when the treaty of Lambeth was signed. An agreement was also reached with the Barons.
William Marshall died in AD 1219 and was succeeded by Hubert De Burgh. When Henry assumed full control in AD 1227 Hubert De Burgh was retained as chief minister. In AD 1230 a new war broke out when Henry tried to reclaim his lost territories in France. This campaign achieved nothing.
At home Henry maintained peace with Scotland and in Wales his position was strengthened by the construction of many new castles. Revenues received from Ireland were also important and many new estates were also granted to supporters. In AD 1254 Henry’s son Edward was created Lord of Ireland. English influence in Ireland was at a peak for the Medieval period.
In AD 1258 Barons revolted again mainly over Henry’s style of government. Led by Simon De Montfort the barons attempted instigate reforms at the Provisions of Oxford however neither side was able to establish complete control. Eventually Civil War broke out and Henry was defeated at the Battle of Lewes in AD 1264 and was captured. His son, Edward then raised a new army and defeated the rebels at the Battle of Evesham where De Montfort was killed. Henry was released and took revenge sequestering many of the rebel’s land. He did however agree to a number of reforms which limited the power of some Royal officials. Henry became increasingly infirmed and his son Edward effectively ruled for the remainder of his reign.
Henry carried out a number of reforms to the coinage. In England the Short Cross penny was replaced by the Long Cross penny to discourage clipping. The number of mints was also reduced and he also introduced a Gold Penny although this was not successful and was rapidly withdrawn. In Ireland and also in the Anglo Gallic series there were also a number of issues.

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Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Annulet / Rosette mascle issue

Calais Mint

S1836/1859; 25mm, 3.79g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

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Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Annulet / Rosette mascle issue

Calais Mint

S1836/1859; 25mm, 3.72g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

The post Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat Calais The Reigate Hoard appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Rosette/ Pinecone mascle issue

London Mint

S1858/1874; 27mm, 3.89g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

The post Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat London The Reigate Hoard appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Rosette/ Pinecone mascle issue

London Mint

S1858/1874; 26mm, 3.99g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

The post Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat London The Reigate Hoard appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Short Cross type

London / Henri

18mm, 1.34g

Henry was only 9 years old when he became king and initially there was a Regency with William Marshall effectively in charge. After an unsuccessful attempt of invasion by the French in AD 1217 was defeated off Sandwich and eventually peace was restored when the treaty of Lambeth was signed. An agreement was also reached with the Barons.
William Marshall died in AD 1219 and was succeeded by Hubert De Burgh. When Henry assumed full control in AD 1227 Hubert De Burgh was retained as chief minister. In AD 1230 a new war broke out when Henry tried to reclaim his lost territories in France. This campaign achieved nothing.
At home Henry maintained peace with Scotland and in Wales his position was strengthened by the construction of many new castles. Revenues received from Ireland were also important and many new estates were also granted to supporters. In AD 1254 Henry’s son Edward was created Lord of Ireland. English influence in Ireland was at a peak for the Medieval period.
In AD 1258 Barons revolted again mainly over Henry’s style of government. Led by Simon De Montfort the barons attempted instigate reforms at the Provisions of Oxford however neither side was able to establish complete control. Eventually Civil War broke out and Henry was defeated at the Battle of Lewes in AD 1264 and was captured. His son, Edward then raised a new army and defeated the rebels at the Battle of Evesham where De Montfort was killed. Henry was released and took revenge sequestering many of the rebel’s land. He did however agree to a number of reforms which limited the power of some Royal officials. Henry became increasingly infirmed and his son Edward effectively ruled for the remainder of his reign.
Henry carried out a number of reforms to the coinage. In England the Short Cross penny was replaced by the Long Cross penny to discourage clipping. The number of mints was also reduced and he also introduced a Gold Penny although this was not successful and was rapidly withdrawn. In Ireland and also in the Anglo Gallic series there were also a number of issues.

The post Henry III AD 1216-1272 Silver Penny Short Cross London appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Annulet / Rosette mascle issue

Calais Mint

S1837/1859; 25mm, 3.84g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

The post Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat Calais The Reigate Hoard appeared first on Silbury Coins.

King on horse/Oval shield

mm. triangle in circle

Group 4

S2779; 34mm, 14.66g

Born the second son of James I Charles became heir upon the death of his elder brother Henry in AD 1612. After an unsuccessful attempt to marry him to the Infanta of Spain Charles married the Catholic Henrietta Maria of France in AD 1625. Charles strongly believed in the divine right of kings and upon his accension to the throne in AD 1625 it was not long before he quarrelled with Parliament which tried to curb his powers. This caused increasing unrest at his attempts to raise taxes without Parliamentary consent. There was uneasiness with his religious policies in part due to his marriage to a Catholic queen. He also quarrelled with the Scottish bishops and eventually both the Scottish and English Parliaments rebelled starting the Civil War.
Having been defeated by armies raised by Parliament Charles eventually fled from Oxford to the north where he was captured by the Scots who handed him over to the Long Parliament in London. Refusing to accept a Constitutional monarchy Charles escaped to the Isle of Wight. Charles attempted to reassert his control but was defeated by the Parliamentarians under Cromwell who had him brought back to London and tried. This time Charles was sentenced to death and was executed in Whitehall in January AD 1649. This instigated the Commonwealth when the country was ruled as a Republic until Charles II was restored as king in AD 1660.
The reign of Charles I is one of the most interesting numismatically. Not only were many provincial mints set up, particularly during the Civil War period, some outstanding machine- made coins were produced both in England and Scotland under Nicholas Briot.

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