Medieval English Hammered Farthings: Henry V - Calais

This online guide is designed to help

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

accurately identify and classify their English Hammered Farthings.

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Overview:

There are two "tell-tale" signs to distinguish Henry V farthings from those of his predecessor, Henry IV.

First - the coins of Henry IV have a lock of hair to the left of the king's face standing away from the head. This is not the case with coins of Henry V.

Second - the formation of the inner circles on the obverse. Coins of Henry IV are formed of many small dots which often appear fused together. On coins of Henry V there are fewer dots and these appear as short strokes at an angle to the radial direction (see the photo for clarification).

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Date: 1413-1422
Mint: Calais
Type: Standard

Diameter: 9-11mm
Weight: 0.25g (3¾grains¹)
Purity: 0.925 silver

Obverse: [+HEn]RIC·REX·ΛnGL
    Small face and crown, with narrow neck and shoulders.
    Face and crown as used on some half nobles.

Reverse: VIL LΛ: CΛL IS':
    "Long Cross" with three pellets in each quarter.

Reference(s):
  S.1798A
  N.-
  W. HV Type 1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare (Flud R-9)

Guide Price:
  £250 (Fine)
  £375(Very Fine)

Sold by:

• (June '04) A very fine example of this coin was sold by London Coin Auctions for £250.
• An example of this coin is in Withers: Small Change III.

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¹ SEABY, BA. (ed) 1948: Notes on English Silver Coins 1066-1648 to help
  collectors in their classification (London, Seaby). pp 87

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