File:Medieval silver coins (reverses) from Ashbourne, Derbyshire (batch 2) (FindID 490608).jpg

I have examined a group of coins found in the Ashbourne area, Derbyshire, received at the British Museum in two batches: the following report was amended after receipt of the later material. All but one are official English coins of the Long Cross type, issued between 1247 and 1279. The Long Cross coinage was issued in the name of King Henry III (although it continued to be produce for a few years into the reign of Edward I). Modern numismatists have broken the coinage up into a series of classes, which allow coins to be dated more precisely within the Long Cross period. The name of a moneyer and mint place is indicated on the backs of the coins. Also present in the group is a counterfeit of this same type.

All the official silver coins present will be at least 90% fine metal, corresponding to the coinage standards of the period. The coins all appear to be full pennies, although several are now in fragmentary form, having suffered damage in the ground. It was possible to piece together a couple of complete or near-complete coins from some of the fragments. Currently 43 coins have been identified, but, given the condition of the surviving material, there may have been more originally. A catalogue of the coins accompanies this report. (This does not include two very tiny fragments of coins recovered.)

The penny was the only coin in regular production and use in England for most of the 13th century. Lesser denominations, halfpennies and farthings, were provided by literally cutting the penny into halves and quarters and these cut fractions are commonly encountered as single finds today. Although it is not impossible that some of the smaller fragments found in this group were such cut fractions, this is not clearly the case and it seems more likely the find consists solely of full pennies. Certainly, these are by far the majority of the coins.

2012 T138 Ashbourne area, Derbyshire Catalogue

Long Cross coinage in the name of Henry III (1247-1279)

Dates of classes represented
Class 3: 1248-50
Class 5: 1251-72

[The number in brackets is the number of the coin as sent to the BM; An asterisk indicates an incomplete or fragmentary coin. Coins marked by † represent the later finds, added to the catalogue after the report was initially drawn up.]

1. 3a Nicole London NIC OLE ONL VND 1.25 (13)
2. 3a Nicole London NIC OLE ONL VND 1.24 (4)
3 3a Nicole London NIC OLE ONL VND 1.23† (x3)
4. 3a Nicole ? NIC OLE [ ] 0.85* (24)
5. 3ab Tomas Northampton TOM ASO NNO RhA 1.3 (8)
6. 3ab Willem Norwich WIL LEM ONN ORW 1.36†
7. 3b Ion Lincoln ION ONL INC OLN 1.32 (5)
8. 3b Willem Oxford WIL LEM ONO XON 1.28 (16)
9. 3b Ierveis Ilchester IER VEI SON IVE 1.3 (10)
10. 3c Willem Canterbury WIL LEM ONC ANT 1.19 (21)
11. 5a Gilbert Canterbury GIL BER [ ] 0.91* (22)
12. 5a Willem Canterbury WIL LEM ONC ANT 1.19 (27,28)
13. 5a Henri London hEN RIO NLV NDE 1.17 (14)
14. 5a Henri London hEN RIO NLV NDE 1.11 (15)
15. 5a Nicole London NIC OLE ONL VND 1.35 (11)
16. 5a Nicole London N[ ] ONL VND 0.83* (26)
17. 5a Ricard London RIC ARD ONL VND 1.32 (9)
18. 5a ? London [ ] NLV NDE 1.19 (2)
(partial brockage)
19. 5b2 Henri London hEN RIO NLV NDE 1.18 (1)
20. 5b2 Ricard London RIC ARD ONL [ ]ND 1.12* (25 +2fr)
21. 5c Willem Canterbury WIL L[EM] ONC ANT 1.26 (18)
22. 5c Davi London D[AV] ION LVN DEN 1.18†
23. 5g Alein Canterbury ALE INO NC ANT 1.27* (20)
24. 5g Ambroci Canterbury AMB [ ] 0.45*†
25. 5g Gilbert [Canterbury] [ ] BER [ ] 0.38*
26. 5g Nicole Canterbury NIC OLE [ONC] ANT 1.24 (19)
27. 5g Robert Canterbury ROB E[ ]T 0.72*†
28. 5g Walter Canterbury WAL TER ONC ANT 1.33 (3)
29. 5g Willem Canterbury WIL LEM ONC [AN]T 1.33 (6)
30. 5g Renaud London REN AVD ONL VND 1.36†
31. 5g Renaud London REN AVD ONL VND 1.15†
32. 5g Walter London WAL TER ONL VND 1.25 (12)
33. 5g Willem London [ ]M ONL VND 1.03* (23)
34. 5g illegible 0.64* (29)
35. 5g Walter ? WAL [ ] 0.4*
36. 5h Arnaud London [ ] AVD ONL VND 1.24 (7)
37. 5 Henri London hEN [ ] 0.36*
38. 5 Walter ? [ ] R ON[ ] 0.23*
39. ? Henri ? hEN RIO [ ] 0.6* (2 frags)

40-2. Uncertain fragments 0.4, 0.17, 0.08

Imitation
43. Based on class 3c Nicole Canterbury
hENRICVS REX III, pellets by hair 1.3 (17)
NIC OLE ON C[A]N

Dr Barrie J. Cook
Curator of medieval and Early Modern Coinage
Department of Coins and Medals
British Museum
15 June 2012
22 August 2012