'I would also hope for draughts of all your Coins, considerably different, as low as King James the 7th coming into England. I say wher they are considerably different: for I sould not desyre to trouble ane Engraver (or a Reader) with multiplying pieces that diagree only in bulk or date, if their Inscriptions are the same in the main & the size and year wherin they differ may be safely accounted for without such nice descriptions and distinctions of ’em in the Copper plate. ...
I had Lately an Account from Canterbury of a great Many Varieties observ’d by one Gentleman in the Coins of Ethelred K. of Kent which he sends me under the title
Nomina Locorum et Monetariorum Quae in Ethelredi R. Nummis occurrunt
Mo Lundoni God Cantua Leofric
Mo Lundoni Leofric - Caent Aelfstane
Mo Lundoni Godwine - Mo Lund Godwine
Mo Lundoni Wulfric - Mo Lund Osulf
Mo Lundoni Sibwine - Mo Lundonj Aelfstan
Mo Lundoni Birkusige - Mo Lundoni Leolfstan
M Eadlaf - Mo Lundonj Eadmund
Deoraby - Mo Lundonj Eadmund
Mo Caentua Eadwold - Mo Lundoni Kynfige
Mo Caentua Bord - Mo Lundo Osrylol
Mo Caentua Lifronj - Mo Lundo Osuilf
Mo Caentua Doia - besydes one of Lincoln, one of Rochester and one of Norwich
Here are no lesse than twenty six Reverses of the same Kings money; which would tempt a man to believe the Saxons study’d Variety in these matters as much as the Romans. This is not true. However here’s ane ample testimony of the greate Easyness in these princes to grant power of Coinage to almost any place or person that desyred it.
[A PS:] Sr RS is pleasd to tell me that I shall have his instructions in order of my Chapters by the post: and if you please to begin at the highest you can goe with your Coins, and descend Regularly (by single Kings or Centuries) you will //// on your work with the greater Ease, both to your self and me. After ye drudgery of the winter is over, I hope we shall meet in the Spring or Summer; and refresh our Selves with a Cup of cold water among our Mountains.'
(NLS, MS 33.3.19, ff.2v-3r; Burnett 2020b, pp. 906, 1539)