A Collection of Imitation Long Cross Pennies, The Collection of a Gentleman

A Collection of “Continental Imitation” Long Cross Pennies, the Property of a Gentleman.

The high silver content of the English currency and the strict control exercised over it by successive kings in the 13th and 14th century led to it being imitated in neighbouring areas of Europe, particularly the Low Countries and western Germany, the areas with the closest trading links to England. This was done partly to facilitate trade but also as a source of profit for local rulers who would slightly reduce the weight and/or fineness of their coins which would (hopefully) still be accepted at par with the English issues they mimicked.

Most of the coins copy their English prototypes reasonably closely but reveal little about where they were produced. A few specimens can be linked to the Westfalian counties of Arnsberg and Lippe and the Dutch territories of Gelderland and Kuinre but the vast majority conceal their origin behind inaccurate English mint names or enigmatic reverse legends.

The coins offered in this group give a tantalising glimpse into a series which still provides more questions than answers and is worthy of further research.

North reference numbers refer to J.J. North’s article “Some imitations and forgeries of the English and Irish Long Cross Pence of Henry III” in British Numismatic Journal 65, 1995, pp.83-119 and plates 5-8.