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Mr Casley having favoured me on the 15th of this present May 1747, with the sight of several antient medals and coins preserved in the Cotton Library. I observed among the same the following silver pieces of our English Kings since the time of the Norman Conquest.
Of the 2 first Williams
1. A Pennie with the kings head under a canopy +PILLEMVS REX. reverse a sort of knot. +STEVARA ON PILTN. [William I, canopy type III, Sefara, Wilton, BMC 219 (no source given).To BM (BMC 219).]
2. Another with the same type. Rev. +PVLFGEAT ON GLEPET. [William I, canopy type III, Wulfgeat, Gloucester. BMC 187 (no source given). To BM (BMC 187).]
3. Another of the same type. Rev +S....ARD ON PINECE. [William I, canopy type III. Siword, Winchester. Not in BMC. Not to BM.]
4. Another the Kings head with diadem and sort of labels on each side. +PILLEMV REX. Rev. a kind of cross fleurie with intermediate points +EALDGAR ON LVNDE. [William I, Bonnet type II, Aldgar, London. Not in BMC. Not to BM.]
5. Another the king full faced with a scepter. Rev. a cross between 4 bezants charged with the letters P•A•X•S. ill preserved. [William I or II, Paxs type VIII (many in BM). Could be in BM; insufficient detail to identify.]
6. Another the kings head in profile with a scepter PILLEM REX. Rev. a cross between 4 knots. +EDPI ON LVNDNI. [William I, cross and trefoils type VII, Edwi, London, BMC 464 (‘acquired before 1810’). To BM (BMC 464).]
7. Another the Kings head between 2 stars. +PILLEM REX ANII. Rev. a cross dividing a square with dots at the corners. +GODRIID ON ORƉPI. A fair piece the same incidentally, that is exhibited in Speeds Chronicle as a penny of William the second. [Speed 1623, III, p. 455 (‘William II’). BMC 359 (‘?Sir Hans Sloane collection, 1753’). In 1617 catalogue and SAL 166, both numbered 2. The ticket under the coin says ‘Sloane cat. 235?’: the Sloane registers existed when Brooke was writing (they were lost in the Second World War), so he must have found something similar, but not exact, there. William I, two stars type V, Godric, Norwich. Probably to BM (BMC 359).]
Of Henry the first
8. A pennie, the Kings head full, annulets in each side +HNRICVS RE. Rev. a cross fleurie with points be (sic) between. +IEGLNOƉ ON OXNE. [Henry I, annulets type I, Aeglnoth, Oxford, BMC 12 (‘from the Cotton collection, 1753’). To BM (BMC 12).]
9. Another the king as in the last but different work +HERICVS REx AN. Rev. a cross fleurie +AC..... TET..... [Henry I, full face cross fleury type X, Aschetil, Thetford. BMC 71 (‘Cotton collection, 1753’). Not in Speed 1623, but a ‘Speed’ engraving is in the 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254), numbered 6 (rev. reading: +A......A:TET):, and annotated ‘Hen Hen 2us Fil.’; also in SAL MS 116, numbered 6. Cotton attributes it to Young Henry, Henry II’s son who was crowned King of England in 1170. To BM.]
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Of King Stephen
10. A Pennie, sede face somewhat blind. reverse a crosse with flowers be tween the points like the type in Speed. +PILLEME ON CARDI. [Stephen, Type 1, Willelm, Carlisle, BMC 19 (‘Cotton collection, 1753’). To BM (BMC 19).]
Of Henry. 2. as I think most likely
11. A pennie, head with a scepter +HENR. Rev. cross fleurie dividing a square with flowers at the corners. +••AVLFONL [Henry I, quadrilateral cross in fleury type XV, Raulf, Lincoln. Not to BM.]
12. Another same type but the name complete. fair. Rev + •••DBERT ON •••• E. [Henry I, quadrilateral cross in fleury type XV, Rodbert, Gloucester (GLOE). Not to BM.]
Of King John
13. A pennie coined in Ireland. +ROBERD ON DIVE. the piece graved in Speed [Speed 1623, VIII, p. 547. IOhANNeS ReX. In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254) and SAL MS 116, both numbered 8. An Irish penny of John, Robert, Dublin. Probably to BM: E 2878 (n.b. small hole engraved in correct place)]
13. (sic) A half Pennie, same WILLE ON D. [An Irish halfepenny of John, William, Dublin. Probably to BM: could be any of E 2893–5.]
Of King Henry. 3.
14. A Pennie twice struck. this is the individual piece published in Speed as a pennie of King Richard the first. It is very remarkable, as this type has misled not only Sr Robert Cotton who furnished it to Speed, but also Bp Nicholson Mr Thoresby and others who have wrote concerning English coins. It is however undoubtedly no other than a double struck penny of Henry the third, of the sort that has been commonly ascribed to Henry the second: and upon which by the double stroke the first syllable has been obliterated in the word HENRICVS. So that the legend now stands
RICVSRVSREX. [= Speed VII, p. 529 (‘Richard I’). RICVSR SR EX/+A[]V•ON[ ]NICO. In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254) and SAL MS 116, both numbered 7. Short cross penny of Andreu of Lincoln, class Vb or Vc (i.e. John). Not to BM.]
15. A Pennie +HENRICVS REX, same type. Rev. +ABELON LVNDE. [Short cross penny of Abel, London, class V-VII. Could be in BM: could be any of E 2048–50.]
16. Another Do. +R ••••BES ON LVND. [Short cross penny of Pieres, London, class I (i.e. Henry I). Not to BM (E 2071–2 both have his name clearly visible).]
17. A piece of Henry 3. HENRICVS REX III. Rev. a double cross 3 pellets in each quarter. ROBERTOICANT. This is the individual piece published in Speed. is exceeding fair and very singular, as exceeding any one I have seen in breadth and as weighing full 43 grains and a half, which is the double of any other I have met with very nearly. I therefore apprehend it must have been coined for a double pennie, or a two pennie piece. [Speed 1623, IX, p. 590. In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254), numbered 9 and annotated ‘Hen 3’; in SAL MS 116, numbered 9. Long cross penny of Robert, Canterbury, class V. Not to BM: nothing of this heavy weight.]
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18. A pennie coined in Ireland. RICARD ON DIVE. somewhat blind. [Henry III, Irish penny. Could be in BM: could be either of E 2899 or E 2901, probably the former as it is in poor condition. (E 2900 has a big hole which surely would have been mentioned.)]
19.20. two more common pennies of the same king. [Presumably two long cross pennies (Henry III–Edward I). Could be in BM, but not enough information to identify them.]
Of Edward 1. And 2.
21. The piece called the shilling or by others the groat of Edw 3. This is the individual piece published in Speed. is a very scarce piece. one of them was sold at Ld Oxfords for more than 5 guineas. +ЄDWARDVS•DI•GRAT•REX ANGL. Rev. DnS HIBn.DVX.AQT. and in the inner circle CIVI LONDONIA. [= Speed 1623, X, p. 644 ‘Edward I’, reading Dn’S hIBn’ Є DVX AQVT. Missing from 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254); in SAL MS 116, numbered 10 and annotated ‘E 1’. Edward I, groat, London. Probably in BM: E 2202 without provenance (which has Dn’S; E 2201, the other possibility, has Dn•S).]
22. A pennie EDW.R.ANGL.DNS.HYB. Rev. CIVITAS LINCOL. This is the pennie published in Speed. [Speed 1623, XI, p. 666 ‘Edward II’, with reading DMS (sic). In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254), numbered XI, and annotated ‘Ed 2’; in SAL MS 116, numbered 11. Edward I, penny, Lincoln. Could be in BM: any of E 2308–11, without provenance (E2311 has a letter most like an M, for what it is worth).]
23. Another. London. [Too imprecise to identify.]
24. Another. Cantor. [Too imprecise to identify.]
25. Another London. [Too imprecise to identify.]
26. A pennie coined in Ireland. CIVITAS DVBLINIE. [Could be in BM: could be any of E 2904–12, without provenance.]
27. Another. CIVITAS VATERFOR. [Could be in BM: could be any of E 2921–3, without provenance, although they all have W not V.]
28. A fair half pennie. London. [Could be in BM: could be either of E 2380–1, without provenance (probably E 2380, as it is in good condition).]
29. Another. VATERFOR. somewhat blind. [Could be in BM: could be either of E 2925–6, without provenance (probably E 2925, as it is the poorer specimen).]
30. A farthing. Dublin. [To BM: only a single Dublin farthing in BM (E 2918, no provenance).]
Of Edward 3
31. A Halfpenny ЄDWARDVS REX. London. [Edward III, 3rd or possibly 4th coinage (with this form of legend). Could be in BM: could be any of E 4472–3 (E 4475 is illegible), without provenance.]
32. Another Berwick. Singular from the mark Ʒ5 in 2 of the quarters of the reverse instead of pellets. [dward I–III, Berwick mint, Class 8b (with bear’s head in two rev. quarters). Could be in BM: either of E 2375–6, without provenance.]
33. another half penny somewhat blind. [Too imprecise to identify.]
Of Richard. 2.
34. A York pennie ill preserved. [Too imprecise to identify.]
Of Henry. 5.
35. A penny annulets on each side of the head. VILLA CALISI. This is the piece published as Henry 6.th in Speed. [= Speed 1623, XIIII, p. 761 (‘Henry IV’, not VI, as Folkes says). In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254) and SAL MS 116, both numbered 14, and both annotated ‘H4’. Henry VI, penny, Calais. Could be in BM: not enough detail to identify.]
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36. a half penny Do. but blind. [Too imprecise to identify.]
Of Henry 6.
37. Penny. London. [Too imprecise to identify.]
38. a fair Half groat. Calais. [Too imprecise to identify.]
Of Edward. 4.
39. a fair Groat. London. the individual piece published as Edward 3d in Speed. [= Speed 1623, XII, p. 684 (‘Edward III’). In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254), numbered 12 and annotated ‘Ed tertius’. Something different was written before ‘tertius’ was added, and then crossed out. It looks as if it might have been ‘quartus’. In SAL MS 116, numbered 12. Edward IV second reign, groat, mm. cinquefoil. Not to BM.]
40. Another. Bristol. [Too imprecise to identify.]
41. The Irish groat published as of this King in Speed. but the coin not so distinct as in the print. HIBERNIE is to be read in the last 2 quarters on both sides. [= Speed 1623, XVII, p. 866 (‘Edward IV’); REX ANGLIE FRANCIE/DOMINVS hIBERNII, three crowns. In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254), numbered 17; in SAL MS 116, numbered 17 and annotated ‘E 4’. Henry VII, Irish groat (or half-groat if size 2?), misread by Speed, corrected by Folkes. Pagan (in litt.): ‘one of those anonymous Three Crown Irish groats which having rested safely under the heading Edward IV for some three and a half centuries was reattributed by Michael Dolley to the opening months of the reign of Henry VII.’ It is possible that this coin was procured for Cotton by his librarian Richard James from a ‘Mr Twine’, probably Bryan Twyne (1581– 1644) (See Richard James - Robert Bruce Cotton, BL, Cotton MS Julius C III, f.217). Too imprecise to identify.]
Of Henry. 7.
42. A york pennie the King in his throne. keys under the arms. [Henry VII, York, penny. Could be in BM: not enough detail to identify.]
43. Half groat full faced. London. clipped in the inner circle. [Henry VII, London, half-groat. Probably not in BM as nothing as clipped as Folkes seems to describe.]
44. Another keys by the head. ЄBORACI. [Henry VII, York, half-groat. Could be in BM: not enough detail to identify.]
45. Another side faced. POSVI &c. [Henry VII, York, half-groat. Could be in BM: not enough detail to identify.]
46. Another marked with a martlet. keys under the arms. [Henry VII, York, half-groat. Could be in BM: not enough detail to identify.]
Of Henry. 8.
47. A side faced Groat [Too imprecise to identify.]
48. A Half Groat with the side Face. Canterbury. T.C. [Henry VIII, half-groat, Canterbury (Cranmer). Could be in BM: BM has three examples without provenance (E 0131–30).]
49. A Durham penny T.W and the Cardinals hat. [Henry VIII, penny, Durham (Wolsey). Could be in BM: BM has seven examples without provenance (E 0158–64).]
50. A Gunhole groat full faced. fair. [An example of the first issue (1544) of debased full-faced groats of Henry VIII.]
51. A very base Teston or shilling mark ʘ. [Henry VIII, testoon, mm. annulet and pellet. Probably to BM: could be either of E 0063–4; E 0064 is the worse looking!]
52. A Bristol half Groat. very base. the K. full faced arms on the rev. [Henry VIII, half-groat, Bristol. Could be in BM: the BM has two examples without provenance (E 0144–5).]
53. An Irish Groat. H.J. by the Harp in the time of Jane Seymour. [Henry VIII, Irish groat with letters H I. Could be in BM: the BM has two examples without provenance (E 3000–1; perhaps 3001?)]
Of King Edward the 6th
54. A very base shilling marked with a fleur de lis, and has been dated M•D•L•I. the the last one is now blind. it is countermarked with the figure [p. 5] Of a Greyhound sitting. This mark of a Greyhound was stamped as Stow informs us in his Chronicle upon the basest of King Edwards shillings, to give them currency for a little time at two pennies one farthing each. these were 9 oz in the pound base to 3 ounces of silver; the second sort that were 6 ounces fine, were at the same time countermarked with a portcullis and let pass for 4d half penny each. I take this piece to be a very great rarity, so few of them having been preserved. I had searched for one in vain several years, but never saw before this, in the cabinet of the Rt Honble the Earl of Pembroke where it now is. [Edward VI, shilling, 1551 with lys mm, and greyhound countermark. Very probably to BM: the BM has one such coin without provenance (H. A. Grueber, Handbook of the Coins of Great Britain and Ireland in the British Museum (London, 1899), No. 458).]
55. a base shilling of M•D•XL•IX. the mark obliterated. [Edward VI, shilling, 1549. Probably to BM: the BM has one such coin without provenance (E 0266).]
56. Another, same mark but blind. [Too imprecise to identify.]
57. A rare half penny, as I take it out of the same King, but the E•D•G is obliterated. [Edward VI, halfpenny, 3rd coinage. To BM: Grueber 1899, no. 473.]
Of Philip and Mary.
58. A Sterling Pennie, but not fair. [Too imprecise to identify.]
Of Queen Elizabeth.
59. A milled three penny piece with the arms on a broad cross the date 1575. this is the piece engraved in Speed. exceedingly rare. I never saw but one before,
which is in the cabinet of Dr Mead. [Speed 1623, XXIIII, p. 1152, mm mullett, 1575, size 3. In 1617 catalogue (BL, MS Harley 254), numbered 23; in SAL MS 116, numbered 24. Elizabeth, milled 3d. Could be in BM. BM has three, one is holed, leaving E 0578 or Grueber 1899, no. 520 as possibilties.]
60. A milled three farthing piece. very fair and neat. this is also rare. I never saw more than one other, sold for a guinea at the Earl of Oxfords sale. [Elizabeth, milled three-farthing. To BM: BM has only one piece, without provenance (Grueber 1899, no. 527).]
61. An Irish groat with 3 harps 1603. [Too imprecise to identify.]
62. A small silver piece with a rose on one side and E•R on the other. [Elizabeth, silver pattern halfpenny. Not to BM: BM has only one piece, acquired in 1844.]
63. An Irish copper penny 1601. [Elizabeth, Irish, debased silver penny. Perhaps to BM: BM has two with very coppery appearance (E 3045–6)]
64. A Briots two penny piece bare headed of K. [Charles I. Probably to BM: BM has two pieces, one of which lacks provenance (Grueber 1899, no. 600).]
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Pieces omitted.
65. An aquitain pennie of Edward. 3. A Lion passant under the head EDWARDVS•REX•ANGL. Rev. a crown in each quarter DVX•AQVITANIЄ. it is
pretty fair and a scarce piece. [Edward III, Aquitaine, penny. Elias 56. Taylor Combe, Description of the Anglo-Gallic Coins in the British Museum (London, 1826), pp. 49–50, nos. 11–12 (no provenance given; both “EDWARD’”) = Grueber 1899, no. 273 and E 361. Probably to BM.]
66. A penny of Edw 4. Irish the sun and rose by the head. a rose in the center of the reverse. the legend clipt off. [Edward IV, Dublin penny, rose on cross issue. Could be to BM: the BM has four examples without provenance, all more or less clipped (E 2964–7).]
67. A French gross of K. Henry the sixth. fair. [Henry VI, as King of France. Grand blanc aux écus. Combe 1826, pp. 76–7, nos. 6–10: only 9 has no provenance = Cotton’s? It has a fleur de lys mint-mark = E.R.D. Elias, The Anglo-Gallic Coins (London, 1984) 288 (St Lô). Probably to BM: the BM now has two such coins without provenance (E 3735–6), both exactly the same weight. Probably E 3726, as it is the nicer coin.]
London May. 16. 1747 MffOLKES.'
(BM manuscript; Burnett 2020b, pp. 1579-83 - text in square brackets is commentary by Burnett with (1) references to other catalogues of the Cotton collection, (2) the modern identification of the coin, where possible, and (3) a comment on whether or not the coin was acquired by the BM in 1753 and whether it can be identified today.)
