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Description: | A bi-faced cast copper alloy coin weight of medieval date (1460-1470) The coin weight is sub-circular in plan, its diameter measures 18.5mm and it is 3.6mm thick. It weighs 7.03 grams (0.248 oz's or 108.4 grains), It has an even mid-green patina. The whole weight has been slightly worn or abraded in the plough soil. On the obverse (front face) of the weight is a ship with a single mast. On the upper right hand side of the mast is a small lion passant and on the left a fleur-de-lis. These images have been slightly worn and also flattened. On the reverse (rear face) of the weight is a ship with a single mast and a banner with an inscribed E at the stern. Over this mast is a figure standing with a sword in his right hand and a quartered shield on his left arm. The shield bears the arms of England and France (lions passant and fleur-de-lis). On the hull of the ship is a clearly defined flower or rose. This side has been struck slightly off centre on the flan and so the upper part of the design is missing. The obverse of the weight is that of a noble (weighing 108 grains and worth 6 shillings and 8 pence in silver money: weight 169 in Paul and Bente Withers British Coin Weights). The reverse is that of a Ryal or Rose-Noble (weighing 120 grains and worth 10 shillings in silver money: weight 197. ibid). Clearly the two should never come together on the same flan. The reason for them doing so could be a potential fraud, the testing of a new die (i.e. the Ryal die), or be as simple as boredom in the workplace, and seeing if they could produce a weight with images on both sides. The interesting thing is that this coin weight links type 169 with 197 to the same place of manufacture for the first time. The mass of the object makes it quite clear that it has been struck on a flan for a 108 grain noble weight. The flan, however, has not had its edge adjusted, which most other British medieval coin weights have. This could explain why it is about 3 or 4 grains heavier than these usually are. Ryal weights are mostly around 116 grains. More evidence for the obverse (Noble) being the initial face is the flattening and slight distortion caused by the reverse (Ryal) being struck. The dating of this coin weight must be close to the introduction of the Ryal in 1464 and so a date bracket of 1460 - 1470 has been suggested. Thanks are extended to Paul and Bente Withers for their comments and identification of this coin weight.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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