|
|
 |
Edward III, 1327-1377
Until the reign of Henry III (1216-72), the need for
higher-denomination coins had always been met with Byzantine and Arabic
gold coins that circulated among the English merchants and traders. As a
time of prosperity settled over the kingdom, Henry ordered his
goldsmith, William of Gloucester, to produce a 20-pence English gold
coin to attract commerce and improve the monetary position of the state.
But the coin was undervalued, containing almost 24 pence worth of gold.
The experiment was halted and most of the 20-pence coins were melted.
Few specimens survive today.
Edward III made a second attempt to introduce a gold coins in England
with the florin or "double leopard," struck only in 1344. Edward hoped
the coin would become a monetary standard for all of Europe, not just
England. However, problems were encounted--the opposite of those
experienced by Henry III--Edward's coins were over-valued and
unacceptable to merchants. The florins were recalled, melted, and used
for Edward's second, much more successful attempt at an English gold
coin: the noble.
Edward's noble was the first gold coin to be produced in any quantity
in England. The coin was a great success, and thousands were minted,
giving numismatists today about 20 different varieties from which to
choose. Smaller gold denominations--the half noble and quarter
noble--completed the monetary reform. The gold noble was to be the
standard English denomination for the next 150 years.
The Gold Coins of Edward III
 Quarter
Noble value 3 shillings 4 pence, wt. 34.5 grains.
Treaty Period (1363-1369), London Mint, EF
Obverse features royal shield.
Half Noble value 1 shilling 8 pence, wt. 3.29 grams.
Treaty Period (1363-1369), London Mint, VF
Obverse features king standing in a boat
Noble value 1 shilling 8 pence, wt. 7.67 grams.
4th coinage, Pre-Treaty Period (1351-1361), London Mint, VF+
Edward lay claim to the French throne; this noble has FRANC in the
legend at about the 9 to 10 o'clock position.
Noble value 1 shilling 8 pence, wt. 6.98 grams.
Post-Treaty Period (1369-1377), Calais Mint, EF
AQT, near the top of the coin, indicates Edward's claim to the region of
Aquitaine in France.
|
|
