• Metal detecting holidays in England with the World's most successful metal detecting club.

    Twinned with Midwest Historical Research Society USA

  • Foreign hammered coins - excludes Roman, Scottish and Irish

    Scottish and Irish coin page

    Venetian silver coins moved to their own page

    Roman hammered gold has its own page

    Italian coin site

    Unique ID: FASAM-310211

    Visigoths in Gaul

    Object type certainty: Certain
    Workflow status: Awaiting validation Find awaiting validation

    Gold tremissis, attributed to the Visigoths in Gaul, copying a coin of the Roman emperor Julius Nepos (AD 474-5) struck at Rome, dating to c. AD 475-500. Obverse: D N IVL NE - POS P F AVG; Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed right, with probable diadem above bust. Reverse: Staurogram in Wreath. Mintmark: COMOB. RIC X, p. 461, no. 3766var. RIC 3766 has a cross above the bust. Incomplete, possibly because a mount has been removed.

     

    https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/710744

    You will see I have re-identified the coin.

    I was wondering if you could provide me with a find-spot and finders name.

    With best wishes,

    Sam

    Dr Sam Moorhead
    National Finds Adviser for Iron Age and Roman coins

     

    Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century

    Saxon gold coin - this is part of an existing hoard and reported as hoard to the museum

    Sent to Fitzwilliam museum for ID and recording

    1.18g, 11.73mm

    Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century

    Saxon gold coin - this is part of an existing hoard and reported as hoard to the museum

    Sent to Fitzwilliam museum for ID and recording

    This sucker is tiny and mint 1.30g, 10.21mm, totally different from the others

    Many thanks. A preliminary trawl of the works of reference has not yet
    produced any result unfortunatetely.

    Best wishes,

     
    Martin

    I have not recorded this in EMC as it is probably not a single find.
    There have to be a proper hoard publication in due course, but while the finds are still appearing that may be rather premature.

    Best wishes,

    Martin

     

     

    Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century

    1.26g,15.08mm

    This coin (EMC 2010.0131) is a Merovingian tremissis of Coutances (dep.
    Manche), moneyer Piontus, from the same dies as Belfort 1681, Prou 299.
    The obverse names the mint *CVSTANCIA [S reversed] and the reverse names the moneyer PIONtVS. Priou reads the moneyer's name as tVSPION but Belfort's reading PIONtVS is now accepted as the correct one.

    Keep looking.

    Martin

    c 600/800 AD English Saxon gold coin send to Fizwilliam museum for ID and recording

    Not shown in any book I have ???

    1.35g, 13.87mm

    'Saxon' gold coins not in the reference books are usually Merovingian tremisses, and this coin (EMC 2010.0130) is no exception to this rule.
    The coin seems to be unworn and from relatively undamaged dies, but the inscriptions are garbled. I have not found any similar coins in the reference books on Merovingian coins (which is not unusual), but if I receive any clarification from one of the continental experts on Merovingian coins I shall let you know.

    Merovingian gold coins greatly outnumber Anglo-Saxon gold coins as finds in England.

    With thanks,

    Martin

    Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century

    As usual this coin (EMC 2011.0059) is Merovingian and not Anglo-Saxon, but an important find nonetheless.

    We have recorded two cut halves of Anglo-Saxon gold shillings in recent years, and a cut half of a Series B sceat, but this coin is noticeably more than a half (between two-thirds and three-quarters), so it may have been cut up as bullion.

    This is developing into a really interesting hoard.

    Best wishes,

    Martin

    I should have mentioned that there is no obvious match in the works of reference on Merovingian coins, but the inscriptions are legible, which gives ome hope of identification eventually.

    Martin

    Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century

    Unusually thick coin for a Saxon

    1.31g,9.51mm x 1.61mm thick

    for ID

    0.87g, 12.39mm

    Many thanks for this new coin, which I have recorded as EMC 2011.0044.

    Most 'Saxon' gold coins found in this country are Merovingian tremisses, and this is no exception to that rule. As you rightly say it is too thick to be Anglo-Saxon. The absence of an readable inscription is a problem and I have been unable to find an illustration of a similar coin in the reference books on Merovingian coins (not an unusual experience).
    If I get any further with this coin I shall let you know.

     

    Best wishes,

    Martin

    7thC Saxon gold Tremissis 1.27g, 13.16mm

    'The new find (EMC 2007.0069) is a Merovingian tremissis of the 7th century. The name of the mint on the obverse seems to read PAATICIACO, and the moneyer's name on the reverse is DEAIRENASCA. I have found a coin with a fairly similar obverse inscription (PATICACO VIGO) from an unidentified town in the region of Tours (Prou 413). If I obtain any more information I shall let you know.

    I have passed on your enquiry about the nature of the site to Mark Blackburn, who is much better qualified than I to answer it. The evidence you are finding for early Anglo-Saxon activity in the area is certainly very impressive'.

    Saxon period gold coin 6th/8thC, Early Continental (Merovingian Francia) (584-750), Ruler: anon. (tremissis) (590-670).

    1 Ecu d'Or 1494-1547 France Ecu d'Or au Soleil, François Ier à la Croisette

    Obverse legend : (SOLEIL) FRANCISCVS: D: GRA: FRANCOVM REX. (MM). (TRÈFLE).

    Obverse description : Écu de France couronné ; lettre d'atelier à la pointe de l'écu.

    Obverse translation : (François, par la grâce de Dieu, roi des Francs).


    Reverse

    Reverse legend : + XPS VINCIT. XPS. REGNAT. XPS IMPERAT (MM) (TRÈFLE).

    Reverse description : Croix plaine alésée dans un double polylobe tréflé (11 lobes).

    Reverse translation : (Le Christ vainc, le Christ règne, le Christ commande).

    Austria

    1676 billion silver coin

    XV Kreuzer (15 Kreuzer) Breslau 1676 MMW RDR Leopold I.

    Austria, Leopold I (Hogmouth)

    Obv LEOPOLDVS DG RI SAG H B REX

    Rev 1676 ARCH ID AVS BVR 82 SIL

    Belguim

    Lowlands. Duchy of Brabant. Jean III, the Triumphant. 1312-1355. AR esterlin (18 mm, 1.41 g). Brussels, from 1317/8 onward. + I DVX DE BRABANTIA, castle with two towers / MON-ETA BRV-XEL, cross cantonnée with trefoil of pellets in each quadrant.

    Silver "esterlin" from Brabant's duchy

    A/ +IDVX.DE.BRABANTIA
    R/ MON / ETA / BRV / XEL

    17.99mm, 1.19g

    Denmark

    18thC Danish 10 Cents milled billion silver coin

    1651 Danish billion silver coin -

    Obv FRIDERIC.III.D.G.DAN (Lion facing left)

    Rev NOR.VAN.GOT.REX.1667

    II SKILLING DANSK

    0.72g

    1711 Danish 2 skilling milled silver billion coin

    Obv X. II.SKILLING.DANSKE 1711

    It is a sterling (3 penning) of Naestved Mint under Eric of Pommerania ca. 1403-1412/1413. Obv legend- (star)ERICVS:REX:d:S:R. Rev legend- (star)MONETA NESTWED. Obverse features a crown, reverse features a cross. Note- The witten/hvid of 4 penning has a flower versus a star. Your coin reference is Galster #4."

    and another...

    "The king's title, REX D S N, alleges that Eric was the king of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway (the three countries were united at that time). But that wasn't entirely true. Margaret I, who adopted him as her son, ruled those three countries from 1376 until her death in 1412. Eric was crowned king in 1397, but mainly to get around the problem that Denmark did not allow female sovereigns. (Margaret had had acted as "regent" prior to that time.) But despite his title, she actually ran things right up to her death in 1412. Just an oddity of history."
     
    1677 Denmark 2 Skilling silver coin  

    France - milled coins from 1645

    Louis X1 (1461-83)

    Ecu d'or, 28mm, 1re emission 31/12/1461. Obv: LVDOVICVS:DEI:GRA:FRANCOR:REX, ecu de France crowned, bounded by deux lis crowned. Rev: XPS:VINCIT:XPS:REGNAT:XPS:IMPGRAT, "croix feuillue avec quadrilobes en coeur, accoste de quarte cournelles, dans un quadrilobe." Mint is Paris - pt 18 on the obv. Dup 539v (with XPC); C 741v which has the reverse ending "XPS IMPERT."

     

    Charles IX 1560-1574 French hammered silver coin


    R douzain, 2nd type, 1574, 23.5mm, 2.26gr. Obv: D.G.FRANC.REX.CAROLVS.IX, shield with three lis, surmounted by large crown, shield bracketed by the letter ‘C.' Rev: +SIT.NOMEN.DOMINI.BENEDIC, cross with two lis and two crowns in the quadrants. Mint is Rouen- B under shield.

    1596 Henri IV Huitieme D'Ecu

    Obv Henricvs III

    French hammered coin made into a brooch

     

    '1298 AD French 'gros tournois" in Philipp's name (P for PHILIPPVS and EX for REX), but on this fragment, it wont be possible to tell which one, 4th, 5th or 6th..'.

    1308-12 Henry VII King of the Romans - Henry of Luxemburg

    Obv +:hENRICV eagle S:DEI:GRA

    Rev ROM/ANO/RVM REX eagle

    From the end of the 12th century, the English penny, known for it's good silver, became a standard in north-west Europe. Merchants in the Low Countries (especially Flanders, Brabant, Hainaut) went to England to buy the high quality wool and paid with English pennies.
    To get them they exchanged silver bars and/or light weighted coins in English coin work shops. To avoid exchange rates and increase profits, they soon started minting their own copies. In the same alloy and weight but also in baser material to earn more money. As the majority of the medieval population could not read, it was no problem if the legends were not correct or with the name of the local count and mint. If it looks correct, it must be correct!

    German

    Country





    Teutonic Order
    (German states)
    Type Standard circulation coin
    Years 1351-1382
    Value 1 Vierchen = 4 Pfennig (4)
    Currency Denar
    Composition Silver

     

    Obverse

    Gransmasters shield, legend surrounding.
    Lettering: MAGISTER GENERALIS
    Reverse

    Large cross. Legend surrounding.
    Lettering: DOMINORVM PRVSSIE

    0.66g,15.49mm

    HILDESHEIM - Free City, Billon 4 Pfennig, 1720. Obv.: City coat of arms, "MO:NO:CIV:HILDES"
    Rev.: On 3 lines: "IIII/STADT/17 PF 20". Reference: KM#251.

    Pfennig of Otto IV, 1198 - 1218.

    DEUTSCHE MÜNZEN UND MEDAILLEN
    DORTMUND. REICHSMÜNZSTÄTTE. Otto IV., 1198-1218.
    Pfennig. 1,09 g. OTTO • INPEATOR Gekröntes Brustbild v. v., auf dem Rand Hand mit Zepter//+ TANCTACOLON Doppelfadenkreuz, in den Winkeln je vier Kugeln. Berghaus 67.
    Von großer Seltenheit. Prägeschwäche, sehr schön.

    GERMANY, Dortmund (Royal mint city). Otto IV. 1198-1218. AR Pfennig (18mm, 1.37 g, 2h). Crowned facing bust / Voided short cross; quatrefoils in angles.

     

    Ohio Drew ID'd it

    Maximilian I as elector (1623-1651)

    Electorate of Bavaria

    Halbbatzen (2 kreuzer) without date (1623-1637)
    silver
    2 / SOLI DEO GLORIA / Imperial orb
    M C P R V B D S R I A E E / Shield of Wittelsbach arms

    India

     

     

    1.76g, 9.2mm

    East India Company
    2 Fanam 1764-1807
    Obverse shows Vishnu standing, holding chakra in each upper hand

    BRITISH INDIA, Madras Presidency: Silver Vishnu fanam, 1764-1807
    Weight: 0.83 gm. Diameter: 8 mm Die axis: 12 o'clock
    Four-armed Vishnu standing facing, holding chakra in each upper hand
    Double C monogram
    Reference: Pridmore 19, KM C416, MNI 1807-08

    8mm,0.85g

    East India Company
    2 Fanam 1764-1807

    Double C monogram

    0.84g,7.66mm

    18thC Indian debased gold Fanim pendant

     

    Fascinating coin - initially thought is was Saxon silver sceat as the size matches. I do not recognise the markings and have sent it off to Fitzwilliam museum for ID and recording. Is it probably an Indian debased gold Fanim pendant?

    1.08g,9.41mm

    Unknown foreign coin - researching it

    Similar coin ID

    INDIA BAHAWALPUR NAWAB SADIQ V COPPER COIN 1327

    Unknown foreign coin ID'd by Drew

    1/8th rupee of Alamgir II, Madras Presidency, British India, circa 1817-1835.

    OhioDrew

    Italy

    Monete di zecche italiane
    Firenze

    Gian Gastone de’Medici, 1723-1733. Crazia, Mistura 0,83 g. Stemma coronato. Rv. S. Giovanni stante di fronte, con la mano d. sollevata e una lunga croce astile nella s. CNI 30. Galeotti VI/1.

    q.Spl

    16.71mm,0.42g

    Mallorca

    Another very interesting early hammered Continental copper coin - 2nd one we found over the years - sent off to museum for a help with the ID's - ID'd by Ohio Drew

     

    1 Dinero de Mallorca - N/D - 1665-00 - CARLOS II - Local Coinage

    Obverse : Crowned Bust facing left with I at right; "CAROLVS·II·REX".

    Reverse : Cross within a circle,

    Right coin ) 1700-1724 Spanien - Mallorca Spain MAJORCA Dobler ND(1700-1724) PHILIP

    MALLORCA CARLOS II 1665-1700
    COPPER COINAGE - Dinero

     

    Morocco

    Unknown foreign hammered silver coin - researching it

    Short summary from what I read - looks like a half dirham of Ibn Abu Mahalli, usurper of the throne of the Saadi Empire in Marrakesh, Morocco. This coin was minted in 1612 or so (he seized Marrakesh in 1612). In 1613 he was defeated in battle and his head was hung from the city ramparts until it disintegrated 12 years later.

    Ohio Drew

    Netherlands

    1544 Netherlands - Holland solar crown - Gold Dutch solar crown of Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Count of Holland (1506-1555), etc., 0929 Au, 3.41 g, ø 26 mm, value 42 pence, R1, mint mark Canopy (Dordrecht)

    42 stuivers

    Obv *CARO:D:G:RO.IMP.HISP.REX.DVX.BVR.BR

    Rev 1554*DA:MIHI:VIRTVTE:COTRA:HOS TES:TVOS:

    Guelders cross

    3.41g,25.5mm

    1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type

    BRABANT. Jean I, 1268-1294 AD. AR Esterlin (1.10 gm) of Antwerp. Shield of arms / Voided cross, WALT. VanG.160. dW.242. .

    1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type
    1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type

    1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type 1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type fragments

     

    1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type

    (1576-1612) Rudolf II. Dutch city Zwole

    29.3mm, 4.01g

    1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type 1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type
    1032 - 1035 AD Tiel Denar Conrad II 1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type
    1467 - 1475 Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type

    Dutch Duit-Overyssel Kampen 1630(y)

    Rev TRA/ISVLA/NIA

    1709/8 double stuiver (2 stuiver) of Gelderland Mint Mark Knight on horse 1467 - 1475 Dutch Karel de Stoute -hammered silver dubbele stuiver - undated type
     
    1681 Dutch Zeelandia milled silver coin - Stuiver  

    Norway

    1691 Norway under Denmark - 2 silver skillings
    King Christian V (1670 - 1699)

    Ottoman Empire

    19th Ottoman Empire 5 silver kurush 19th Ottoman Empire 5 silver kurush
    1832 (AH 1223 year 25), 20 Para, Turkey. Ruler Mahmud II.
    Mintname: Constantinople
    19thC Ottoman empire silver coin
     

    13thC Islamic hammered silver coin - recoded on EMC database

    0.28g, 14.92mm L x 9.51mm W x 0.72mm T

     

    Ottoman coin dating site

    http://www.coinsworld.eu/info/ottoman-coin/

    Portugal

     

    PORTUGAL.John II 1481-1495.AR.Real (Vintem).Lisbon mint.

    18.64mm,1.98g

    1601 AD Portugal 20 Reis silver coin

    Obverse : IOAN... In the field : I / X.X (I for Iohannes, XX for valor)
    Reverse : ...GA... coat of arms of Portugal.

    0.75g, 14.45mm

    20 Reis coin of Alfonso VI of Portugal (1656-1667) - here's a picture of a similar one:

    Cross side:
    https://images.app.goo.gl/rDnD8Ya8iTh8vKJb9

    Other side:
    https://images.app.goo.gl/BRS5hrnkPVWzRgiz5

    Can Drew

     

    Issuer Portugal
    King Afonso V (1438-1481)
    Type Standard circulation coin
    Years 1448-1449
    Value 1 Ceitil = ⅙ Real Branco
    Currency Real branco (1415-1517)
    Composition Copper

    Obverse

    Lettering: +ALFOS CEPT ET DOMINO

    Reverse

    Castle over waves.
    With or without mint letter

    Lettering: *REX.PORTUGALIE.ALGA

    Spanish

    1474 -1504 Seville, Spain, 1/2 real, Ferdinand-Isabel, mintmark S plus

    Obv + RCx.C.T:REE.WA.CRST.CSIO

    Rev RELISH + FERN*****NIS:ET.

    1474 -1504 Seville, Spain, 1/2 real, Ferdinand-Isabel

     

    1474 -1504 Seville, Spain, 1/2 real, Ferdinand-Isabel, mintmark S plus

    Obv + RCx.C.T:REE.WA.CRST.CSIO

    Rev RELISH + FERN*****NIS:ET.

    1665 Charles II Spanish colonial 1/2 Real (Mexico city mint)
     
      Ferdinand & Isabella Half Real  Circa, 1474-1504. Silver Bundle of arrows, +FERNANDVS ET ELISABET D G. R. Flourished crown, M T mint mark below, Toledo mint.

     

    15thC Spanish 8 real 2.76g 26.08mm Ferdinand of Aragon and Elisabeth of Castilla

    15thC Spanish hammered silver 4 real 15thC Spanish hammered silver 4 real

    Fascinating gilded coin find - fake 1709 gold 2 Escudos

    5.09g, 24.1mm

    Id'd by club researcher Ohio Drew

    1709 M Lima Two Escudos

    Obverse: cross potent with quartered castles and lions. Border of dots. The legend reads PHILILLUP V D G HISPAN.

    Reverse: crowned Pillars of Hercules rising from the waves. Two horizon lines intersect the pillars, creating three tiers. On the topmost tier L/2/H gives the mint (L for Lima), the denomination ( 2 escudos), and the assayer, Felix Cano Melgarejo. The middle tier P./V./A. abbreviates the royal motto “Plus Ultra.” The bottom tier 7/0/9 gives us a three digit date. The legend reads ET INDIARUM REX.

    1474 -1504 Seville, Spain, 1/2 real, Ferdinand-Isabel, mintmark S plus

    Obv + RCx.C.T:REE.WA.CRST.CSIO

    Rev RELISH + FERN*****NIS:ET.

    Sweden

     

    1611 Swedish hammered silver 1 ore coin

    OBVERSE: Sheaf separating letters C.R. in circle and date 1611, legend: REGIS*SVECIA*
    REVERSE: Lion rampant, legend: MONETA*NOVA* 1ör
    COIN DIAMETER: 21mm
    COIN WEIGHT: 1.62 gram
    SILVER CONTENT: Ag 250/1000 (.250)
    MINT: Stockholm

     

     

    Tunisia

     

    1 Kharub of Mahmud I from Tunisia.

    1167 (Arabic calendar - ~1754 AD).

    https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces113016.html

     

    Continental billion hammered silver coin

    1660 Continental billion silver coin