European Lookalikes

[krasnaya_vityaz]

One fascinating aspect of collecting hammered pennies from the Edward I-III period is the fascinating coins from the Lowlands of Europe and Germany which were closely modelled on the English pennies. Has anybody ever compiled a listing of lookalike coinages by nation and ruler?

[Sylvester]

That's interesting, i never actually thought about that. I knew they existed.

[krasnaya_vityaz]

Every once in awhile I will see something from Germany or Belgium with unique legends for their monarch's name and the actual mint city, but in every other respect it looks like a contemporary English penny. English pennies were well represented in the Brussels hoard of 1908, so there is proof they circulated on the continent, and of course the millions minted in England, surely they left in droves with the greatly increased trade between England and the low countries and the Hanse cities in Germany.

[Sylvester]

England has been a fairly prosperous country on and off.

The 10th century particularly during Æthelred II's reign was equally good, many millions of silver pennies were minted and many found their way onto the continent... alot of them through Danegeld. I read about an excavation in Denmark that reveiled a substantial number of Æthelred pennies.

[krasnaya_vityaz]

England has been a fairly prosperous country on and off.

The 10th century particularly during Æthelred II's reign was equally good, many millions of silver pennies were minted and many found their way onto the continent... alot of them through Danegeld. I read about an excavation in Denmark that reveiled a substantial number of Æthelred pennies.

Northumbrian Sceats surely must have been minted in substantial numbers, especially those from the 9th century. 15 years ago you could get them fairly easily, now they are right pricey, particularly in choice condition.

I have read that some conservative estimates of the numbers of pennies minted during the reign of Edw I were 50.000.000 pennies. That is really a huge number, considering that England was considerably more sparsely populated then and had lost many to the Black Death in the 1350's and 1360's.

Unfortunately with the exception of tax slips there is not alot of record of transactions during that time that suggest real purchasing values for pennies beyond an assumption that a penny was the average wage for a worker, which I believe in my opin is rather presumptive.

[Geordie582]

Here's an example( some of you will have seen this before) of a copy of the English coinage of Edward III, c 1340. It is of Count William of Namur, a territory now parts of France, Belgium & Germany. Probably pierced by English autorities and meant for melting down. I'm still looking for other examples!

Omnicoin

Edited May 11, 2005 by Geordie582

[krasnaya_vityaz]

Thanks for sharing your Namur penny, I am glad to finally see an image of what I am talking about. I have seen them at shows recently, but they are a bit like phantoms, they are just here and there and not everywhere.

[Geordie582]

I've just noticed, I've linked to the whole collection on Omnicoin. Sorry! I'll do better next time - hopefully?!

[krasnaya_vityaz]

I've just noticed, I've linked to the whole collection on Omnicoin. Sorry! I'll do better next time - hopefully?!

Oh that was quite alright, I enjoyed viewing it all thanks.

[mint_mark]

I thought some of you might be interested in this auction on ebay...

A book about imitation Edward hammered coins

[Geordie582]

I was about to bid - until I noticed the 'post & pack' price!

[Art]

I've just noticed, I've linked to the whole collection on Omnicoin. Sorry! I'll do better next time - hopefully?!

That's quite a nice collection. Thanks for sharing.

[Peter]

You're welcome here Art...looks like you've caught the UK bug...I've certainly caught the US bug.

(Initially I'm trying to get an example of all denominations and types....plenty of scope there )

Its great to have another fountain of knowledge at hand.

Peter

[Peter]

PS...Where is the Hat ?

[Geordie582]

I'm sure that hat was one I left in a Taxi in new York in 1999!

[Sylvester]

I'm sure that hat was one I left in a Taxi in new York in 1999!

Arty does always carry his hat around you know...

or maybe he does?

[Art]

The hat just hasn't made the trip yet. It will be here soon.

[Berg]

England has been a fairly prosperous country on and off.

The 10th century particularly during Æthelred II's reign was equally good, many millions of silver pennies were minted and many found their way onto the continent... alot of them through Danegeld. I read about an excavation in Denmark that reveiled a substantial number of Æthelred pennies.

I can please all englishmen by revealing that Swedens first coins where made with imported stamps from England and the skilled craftsmen where to a very high probability english aswell. Later on, the coinage in Sweden was more influenced by Germany... but that is another tale...