Coins, Paper Money, Tokens and Historical Medals

Henry II (1154-1189), Bp de Puiset, Tealby coinage, class A2, Waltier, walt[–]r : [–]n : dvn, 1.35g/12h (Allen 10; BMC 257; N 952/2; S 1337). Blunt strike, otherwise very fine £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Pennies of the Durham Mint, from the Collection of Ray Robinson.

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Collection

From the time of Domesday to the dissolution of the monasteries, the city of Durham played a part in the production of coinage for the realm. Occasionally administered as a royal mint, more often the Bishops were involved in its running, appointing staff to oversee production, putting their personal heraldic marks on the coins and sharing in the profits.

Those whose names are associated with the coinage are:

William of St Calais 1080-1096 Richard de Bury 1333-1345
Ranulf Flambard 1099-1128 Thomas Hatfield 1345-1381
Geoffrey Rufus 1133-1141 John Fordham 1381-1388
William Cumin 1141-1144 Walter Skirlaw 1388-1406
Hugh du Puiset 1153-1195 Thomas Langley 1406-1437
Philip of Poitou 1195-1208 Robert Neville 1438-1457
Richard Marsh 1217-1226 Lawrence Booth 1457-1476
Walter Kirkham 1249-1260 William Dudley 1476-1483
Roberty Stichill 1260-1274 John Sherwood 1484-1494
Robert de Insula 1274-1283 Richard Fox 1494-1501
Antony Bek 1283-1311 Thomas Ruthall 1509-1523
Richard Kellawe 1311-1316 Cardinal Thomas Wolsey 1523-1529
Lewis de Beaumont 1317-1333 Cuthbert Tunstall 1530-1539

Many of them are represented in Mr Robinson’s specialist collection, which is referenced to the standard work by Martin Allen, The Durham Mint (BNS Special Publication 4, 2003).