Gaz T

Henry v 1413-22 Quarter Noble Spink 1757Var. 1.71g Obverse: HENRIC REX ANGL FRANC within treasure of arches, stops of various shapes. Trefoil to left and mullet to right. Reverse: EXCVLTABTUR IN GLORIA (“He shall be exalted in glory”). Cross with lions in angles: lis in centre. Mullet to the right was to distinguish the kings new mint master Lewis John. Henry v’s first mint master. Appointed to the role on 14th April 1413. The trefoil was used as a periodic privy mark to identify a specific minting window die variation or administrative shift within the tower mint. The Annulets (small circles) placed around the arches served the exact same high-utility purpose as the ones next to the central shield or to top. They acted as a subtle internal code to identify the exact sub-series, die variation, and specific mint run. The “1757 Var” Designation: in British numismatics “1757” refers to the ID in the Spink standard catalogue of British coins. The “Var” (variety) means it features a distinct die error or sub type -specifically, a spelling variation, in the reverse Latin legend that reads EXCVLTABTVR instead of the standard EXALTABITVR, (“He shall be exalted in glory”).

Looking carefully at this tiny coin, it definitely has six thick strings with possibly a lozenge or raised pellet shaped stop at the front of the strings. Could this be of significance! It looks lozenge shaped but through two loops on top of each other it’s impossible to make the shape out perfectly.

Not my coin. This one has quite a bit of doubling to the harp and shield but sill only the five strings, so possibly as coinery says maybe the strings were added after the shield, really difficult on a coin so small though.

I believe the slight double strike is definitely a possibility, I’m sure the penny should have seven strings, so six strings on the penny is an odd one. I suppose when cutting the die on something so small is quite easy to make the mistake, like you say coinery anything is possible. I have had a good search but can’t find any half’s with the six strings so hopefully another one will come along 👍 Thanks for the input guys.

Has anyone come across the half penny having six strings to the harp. I believe it should only have five, the strings are also very thick possibly a double strike but looking at the rest of the harp I’m not so sure.

Yes I think you are correct MrT just took some better pictures in natural light, possibly a die crack starting from the first A going through the T and ending on the last A.

Plucked out of the soil this morning.

Found this beautiful coin today. just having a good look at it tonight and noticed the A in GRATIA is a little strange. Any ideas ?

Slightly better image of reverse.

Not sure if it’s an unlisted coin but would welcome any thoughts on the B in the reverse legend, I’m not sure if the B is over B or maybe F.