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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,611 |
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Valued Member
294 Posts |
I've just come across a 1592-95 shilling with a very clear rotated reverse die overstrike. Not sure how common this is and what sort of premium that'd fetch. Could someone advise on this? I'm almost kicking myself for not having found it in time! I haven't actually seen such a major error hitherto.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Coins of Elizabeth 1 were hammer struck, not pressed (milled). The first minting presses of this time were made by Pierre Blondeau, a Frenchman working for the English Royal Mint. He later had his hands cut off for coin forgery. Die rotation very common with Elizabethan (First) coins of the 16th century, to the extent that die rotation not considered an error. Edited by sel_69l
07/07/2019 10:37 am
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Valued Member
 294 Posts |
Thanks. So is it safe to assume that, save for weight, they had pretty lax standards concerning strike standards? I notice that the bust is usually faint on several issues also.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
Faint bust image is very common for all silver coins of Elizabeth 1.
Sharply struck bust images for Elizabeth 1 coins bring a significant premium over coins of the same grade.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
945 Posts |
There was a previous attempt at introducing mechanised coin production in the UK under Eloye Mestrelle, another Frenchman, in the 1560s. The experiment eventually faltered as the Warden of the mint disapproved of the new process. Eloy Mestrelle lost his position and several years later was executed for counterfeiting. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eloy_MestrelleMilled Elizabeth I Sixpences turn up fairly regularly at auction and are handsome pieces, though inevitably there are now fakes around. I can't find reference to Pierre Blondeau falling foul of the law and having his hands cut off? |
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Valued Member
294 Posts |
thanks, could you recommend scholarly papers or guidebooks on english hammered and milled coins?
Ah yes, have been watching some of those milled coins too. They definitely are much better struck than the hammered versions, but for some reason I quite prefer the hammered ones instead. Not that I wouldn't add some of the milled to my collection if they came at a bargain!
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21786 Posts |
PaddyB:- Sorry, I got mixed up with Eloye Mestrelle  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
945 Posts |
For reference books on English hammered and milled coinage - the starting point is the "Coins of England & the United Kingdom" issued annually by Spink of London. This lists all the major coins and variations from Iron Age to decimalisation. (There is a separate volume for decimal coins.) It is the equivalent of the American Red Book and any British coin collector would start there. Beyond that, the books tend to specialise in specific areas. On hammered coins one good reference is "English Hammered Coinage" by Jeffrey J North. This two volume set covers circa 600Ad to 1662, when the last hammered coins were made in this country. It is very scholarly and not well illustrated, so takes a lot of reading! |
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Valued Member
294 Posts |
I did chance upon a few listings for the Spink title, wonder why I didn't think of getting that. Thanks a lot!
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,611 |
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Posted 07/07/2019 10:31 am
