England – Edward III (1327–1377) – AR Silver Penny – Long Cross – Plantagenet Dynasty – Medieval Hammered Coin
Country: England
Dynasty: Plantagenet
Ruler: Edward III (1327–1377 AD), tentative attribution
Denomination: Penny
Mint: Unidentified
Metal: Silver (AR), as stated on the collector’s ticket
Weight: 0.89 g
Diameter: 17 mm
Condition: Fine (F), according to the collector’s ticket; heavily worn
Reference: Medieval English long-cross penny, exact classification undetermined
Obverse: Crowned facing bust of an English monarch within a partially preserved Latin inscription. The portrait is extensively worn, with the crown and facial features largely flattened.
Reverse: Long cross pattée extending toward the outer inscription, dividing the field into four quarters containing groups of three pellets. The surrounding legend is heavily worn and the mint cannot be identified with certainty.
Historical Background:
Edward III ruled England from 1327 to 1377 and was one of the most influential monarchs of the Plantagenet dynasty.
His reign witnessed the early stages of the Hundred Years’ War against France, significant military campaigns and important developments in England’s medieval monetary system.
Silver pennies were fundamental to everyday trade and commerce throughout medieval England.
The long-cross penny design, introduced during the reign of Henry III, remained an important feature of English coinage under successive monarchs.
The cross extended toward the edges of the coin, facilitating the division of pennies into halves and quarters for smaller transactions.
Condition and Collector’s Notes:
A medieval English hammered silver penny, tentatively attributed to Edward III.
The coin displays extensive circulation wear, with a heavily flattened obverse portrait and largely indistinct peripheral legends.
The reverse retains the recognizable long-cross design and several groups of pellets, allowing identification of the general coinage type.
The surfaces exhibit grey toning, darker deposits, scratches and uneven wear consistent with an extensively circulated medieval coin.
The flan is slightly irregular, characteristic of hammered coin production.
At 0.89 g, the recorded weight is below the expected standard for a complete penny of this general period.
The attribution to Edward III remains provisional, as the surviving inscriptions do not permit a definitive identification of the ruler, mint or specific issue.
An accessible historical collectible for enthusiasts of medieval England, Plantagenet history and hammered silver coinage.
The photographs show the actual coin offered for sale and form an integral part of the description.