Pembrokeshire Prospectors Metal Detecting Society

Identify an Early Edwardian Long Cross Penny

INTRODUCTION

I would like to acknowledge the use of information provided by Rod Blunt in his British Coins and Artefacts website, without which this tool would not have been written.

Early Edwardian pennies fall into one of 15 groups or classes, each with its own subgroups or types, these range from 1a to 15d in order of chronology.

Groups 1-9 are Edward I. Group 10 is Edward I transitioning to Edward II. Group 11-14 are Edward II until group 15 which then transitions into Edward III.

Determining which group and type a coin belongs to can be difficult but the differences between coins indicated below should narrow it down to a point where it is relatively easy to arrive at an answer.

The more questions you can answer about your coin, the more precise the identification will be..

1. OBVERSE LEGEND

The obverse (heads) legend on every penny in the series is an abbreviation of:

EDWARDVS REX ANGLIE DOMINVS HYBERNIE

It is abbreviated in various ways but always retains the letters E.R.A.D.H

By identifying the first (and second?) R in the series, everything before it is the kings name.

Thus EDWRANGLDNSHYB is EDW R ANGL DNS HYB and the kings name is abbreviated as EDW

Thus EDWARRANGLDNSHYB is EDWAR R ANGL DNS HYB and the kings name is abbreviated as EDWAR

Kings Initials:

2. MINT/MONEYER

The reverse legend identifies the Mint (or rarely Moneyer) preceded by the words VILLA or CIVITAS.

Detailed information on identifying the Mint, which can have several spelling variations, can be found: here .

Mint (possible spelling):

2. DESIGN OF LETTER A

There are two designs of the letter A, barred between the uprights and unbarred.

Design of letter A:

3. DESIGN OF LETTER E

There are two designs of the letter E, rounded and angular, this can also apply to the letter C.

Design of letter E:

4. DESIGN OF LETTER S

There are three designs of the letter S, if the S is stamped in different parts this is known as composite. However if the S is stamped in one complete shape this is known as non-composite. The last type is called top tilted which has an exagerated top curve.

Design of letter S:

5. DESIGN OF LETTER N

There are six designs of the letter N, the first is the curved Lombardic style.The next four are variations on the Roman style with the bar between the uprights being the identifying factor. The last is the Pothook type

Design of letter N:

6. DESIGN OF CONTRACTIVE MARK

There are four designs of the contractive mark (apostrophe) used when a word is shortened (usually on the obverse side) . They may be shaped like a wedge, crescent, solid half circle or comma.

Design of Contractive Mark:

7. DESIGN OF INITIAL MARK

There are five designs of the initial mark used at the start of the obverse text (top) Four are crosses, potent, pattee, plain and moline. The fifth is a lion and lis. The last two were used exclusively by Durham Mint.

Design of Initial Mark:

8. DESIGN OF REVERSE MARK

There are four designs of the marks sometimes present on the reverse side. They are a cross moline and a crozier end to the main cross, both used by Durham. The other two are marks in the center of the reverse side, a crown in a lozenge (Durham) and a quatrefoil (York).

Design of Reverse Mark:

9. DESIGN OF DRAPERY (NECK) FASTENER

Sometime a fastener is depicted at the kings neck. There are five designs of fastener. A quatrefoil, three pellets, one pellet, a rose and a star.

Design of Fastener:

10. DESIGN OF COLLAR

There are three designs of the drapery around the Kings bust/neck. Most common is two triangular collars with variations. The others are an encircling collar and a shallow arc collar. There is one very rare coin that has no collar.

Design of Collar:

11. DESIGN CROWN SIDE FLEURS

The side Fleurs of the Crown will either have three leaves (Trifolate) or two leaves (Bifolate) .

Design of Side Fleurs: