Medieval English Hammered Farthings - Edward III: Berwick mint

This online guide is designed to help

• Metal Detector enthusiasts
• Museum Curators
• Coin Dealers & Collectors

accurately identify and classify their English Hammered Farthings.

Click here to identify your Edward I Berwick Farthing fast.

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Overview:

There was a mint set up in Berwick by David I of Scotland. Scottish coins were struck here until the town was captured and sacked by Edward I on March 30, 1296. Following the battle of Stirling Bridge on September 11 1297, the town was recaptured by the Scots, although they failed to recapture the castle. In the Spring of 1298 the English army returned and on the news of their approach, the Scots withdrew from the town. The English then occupied Berwick until 1318. After the battle of Halidon Hill in July 1333 it once again was occupied by the English. The great majority of the coins (except Class 5 of Edward II) were struck from local dies and all the farthings produced at Berwick during this reign are extremely rare.

Edward III Berwick farthings feature a bear's head in one or two of the reverse quarters - a device taken from the coat of arms of Berwick at that time of a bear standing next to a tree in luxuriant foliage.

The following list is compiled from J.J. North "English Hammered Coinage, vol 2" and from examples offered for sale on the Internet.

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Date: c.1333-42
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8a variety

Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWARDVS·[or :]D(EI) G(RA)
    Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
    portrait from local dies.
Reverse: VILLA BEREVVICI
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in three quarters and a bear's
    or boar's head in the other quarter.

Reference(s):
  N.1094
  S.1539
  Blunt. Type 8a [SHIOH55]
  North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £45 (Fine)
  £110 (Very Fine)

Note: North does not list a Type 8a farthing.

The pennies and halfpennies of this class have only one bear's or boar's head on the reverse and either VILL ABE RVV ICI or VIL LAB ERV ICI.

The obverse legend can be EDWARDVS·ANGL(IE), EDWARDVS D'G' or EDWARDVS D'GRA.

Further research is needed to classify these farthings.

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Date: Date: c.1333-42
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8a/8b mule

Diameter: 13mm (i.c.d.o: ?mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)

Obverse: +EDVVΛRDVS ΛNGL[I?]
    Type 8a with bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads.
    Crude portrait from local dies. No pellet after EDWARDVS.
Reverse: VIL LAB ERV ICI·
    Type 8b with "Long Cross" with three pellets in the VIL and ERV
    quarters and a bear's or boar's head in the other two quarters.

Reference(s):
  N.1094
  S.1539
  Blunt. Type 8a/8b mule
  North Syll. -
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £45 (Fine)
  £110 (Very Fine)

Sold by:

• (July '04) A Fine example of this coin sold by 'fenlord' on eBay for £66.

Note: North does not list a Type 8a farthing.

The pennies and halfpennies of this class have only one bear's or boar's head on the reverse and either VILL ABE RVV ICI or VIL LAB ERV ICI.

The obverse legend can be EDWARDVS·ANGL(IE), EDWARDVS D'G' or EDWARDVS D'GRA.

Further research is needed to classify these farthings.

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Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8bA1

Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWARDVS DEI GRA
    Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
    portrait from local dies. No colon after EDWARDVS.
Reverse: VIL LA· BER VICI
    "Long Cross" with bear's or boar's head in the VIL and BER
    quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.

Reference(s):
  N.1094
  S.1539
  Blunt. Type 8b [SHIOH55]
  North Syll. 1163 (die a/1)
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £45 (Fine)
  £110 (Very Fine)

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Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8bA1

Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWΛRDVS:DEI GRA
    Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
    portrait from local dies. Colon after EDWARDVS.
Reverse: VIL LA[·?] BER VICI
    "Long Cross" with bear's or boar's head in the VIL and BER
    quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.

Reference(s) *:
  N.1094
  S.1539
  Blunt. Type 8b [SHIH55]
  North Syll.- (die Avar/1var)
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £45 (Fine)
  £110 (Very Fine)

Sold by:

• (March '04) A fine example of this coin, weakly struck (as usual) from rusty dies (see photo), was sold by Anglo-Antiquites (id: anglo-antiquities) on eBay for £42.
• (Sept. '98) A fine example of this coin, weakly struck as usual, was sold by Dix Noonan Webb for £58.
• (Sept. '95) An example of this coin (0.32g) with striking split, obverse double-struck, but reverse fine and clear was sold by Dix Noonan Webb. Part of the Stanwix (Cumbria) Hoard, 1986-7; ex Sotheby 5-6 Oct. 1989 (cf. lots 904-10). Sold for £58.

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Date: c.1333-44
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8bA2

Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains)

Obverse: +EDWARDVS DEI GRA
    Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
    portrait from local dies. No colon after EDWARDVS.
Reverse: VIL LAB ERV ICI·
    "Long Cross" with bear's or boar's head in the VIL and ERV
    quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.

Reference(s):
  N.1094
  S.1539
  Blunt. Type 8b [SHIOH55]
  North Syll. 1164 (die a/2)
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £45 (Fine)
  £110 (Very Fine)

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Date: Date: c.1333-42
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8bB2

Diameter: unk
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWΛRDVS:D' G'
    Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
    portrait from local dies.
Reverse: VIL LAB ERV ICI·
    "Long Cross" with bear's or boar's head in the VIL and ERV
    quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.

Reference(s):
  N.1094
  S.1539
  Blunt. Type 8b (C.E. Blunt, "The Mint of Berwick-on-Tweed under
  Edward I, II, III," NC 1931, p. 45)
  North Syll. 1164 (die b/2)(this example)
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £45 (Fine)
  £110 (Very Fine)

Sold by:

• (Jan '02) A toned EF example of this coin - ex J.J. North Collection - was sold by CNG Triton V lot 2461 for $725. Listed as Type 8a by CNG but clearly identified by North as 8b.

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Date: c.1333-42
Mint: Berwick-on-Tweed
Type: Type 8bB2

Diameter: 12-13.5mm (i.c.d.o: 6mm)
Weight: 0.25g (5 grains¹)

Obverse: +EDWΛRDVS[:?]D' GR'
    Bifoliate straight-sided crown, with no spearheads. Crude
    portrait from local dies. No evidence of a colon after EDWARDVS.
Reverse: VIL LAB ERV ICI·
    "Long Cross" with bear's or boar's head in the VIL and ERV
    quarters and with three pellets in the other two quarters.

Reference(s):
  N.1094
  S.1539
  Blunt. Type 8b [SHIOH55]
  North Syll.- (die Bvar/2)
Scarcity: Rare

Guide Price:
  £45 (Fine)
  £110 (Very Fine)

Sold by:

• (July '04) A chipped but otherwise EF example of this coin sold by 'catfacepaul' on eBay for £41.60.

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Identify your Edward III Berwick Farthing fast...

• Count the number of bear's heads on reverse.
• Match the obverse legend.
• Click on the link.