Henry III Penny – Voided Short Cross London 1216-1247

Description

Heading: Henry III penny – voided short cross

Denomination: Silver penny

Period: Plantagenets- Henry III (1216-72)

Date: c1216-1247

Origin: London mint, Elis moneyer, Class 7

Condition: VF. slightly misshapen  flan with good portrait for type, but very slightly off centre to reverse

Obverse: Crowned facing bust with sceptre in right hand. legend around hENRICVS REX. Considered class 7a with ‘A’ coming to a point with crossbar.

Reverse: Voided short cross in beaded circle. quatrefoils in angles. legend around +ELIS ON LVND

Size and Weight: 1.34g, 17.5mm

References: Spink 1356, N978-80

Features and Provenance: From the coins of Henry II, through those of Richard and John, the coinage style had changed little but the quality had deteriorated. With the first (yes. first) coronation of Henry III in 1216 at the age of just 9. Henry succeeded his father, John, during times of strife and this maybe why the coinage was not re-vamped for the next 30 years.

The pope at the time, effectively Henry’s superior, deemed the first coronation , that had carried out in a rush (to stop Louis of France from taking the English throne) at Gloucester Cathedral, as not properly carried out – he even had to borrow robes and have them cut down to size and use his mother’s headdress as a crown! The second coronation was re-enacted in 1220, properly this time.

Later, in 1225 baronial unrest was quelled, when, unlike his father he willingly sealed and signed the Magna Carta (in fact three times) and it became enshrined in English law. He ruled for 56 years, so this very often overlooked English monarch, must have done something right to last that long!

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible