THE SILVER CROWNS OF TRURO AND EXETER UNDER CHARLES I F. R. COOPER NOTES on the Mints of Truro and Exeter under Charles I formed the subject of a paper by R. C. Lockett published in BNJ, xxii (part ii), 1936/7, dated 1938. Contained therein are lists of coins for all denominations from unites to pennies, with illustrations of the obverse and reverse of the main die varieties. The purpose of this study is to assist in the identification of crowns not illustrated in Lockett's paper: essentially those designated by suffixes because of differing reverses (obverses being unchanged), and to present some additional material. The basic Lockett enumeration consists of twelve varieties: Nos. 1 to 5 undated, attributed to Truro 6 to 8 dated 1644, attributed to Exeter 9 to 12 dated 1645, attributed to Exeter Both obverses and reverses of the above are shown on plates I and II, op. cit., and normally are easily distinguishable, although one meets with specimens so badly struck that care is needed; a double striking can alter the apparent relative position of letters in the legend in relation to the rest of the design. There remain seventeen sub-varieties recorded by Lockett the reverses of which require to be established: Nos. 4a Truro 1 coin 8a, b, c, d Exeter, 1644 4 coins 9a, 11a, 12a to j Exeter, 1645 12 coins We thus have twenty-nine in all. In addition the writer has found a variety of no. 7, and two of 12e, or f, the latter supporting the findings of Lingford and Paget (see below); but only two varieties of 12g, h, or i have been definitely established. There is little doubt that more extensive research would bring others to light. The obverse dies may be classified briefly as follows: I. King in profile on thick-set horse; two loose sash-ends extended; mm. rose. Lockett 1 only. The legend surrounding the above reads: CAROLVS D G MAG BRIT FRA ET HI REX, with sleeve stops between the lettering. All other varieties have BRI for BRIT. II. King three-quarter face on clumsy horse; sash tied in large bow; mm. rose. (a) 'Semi-colon' stops between words of legend, except for pellet after ET. Lockett 2 only. (b) Colon stops between words throughout. Lockett 3 to 9. Some of the earlier strikings show 'semi-colon' stops, evidently in course of alteration. III. King three-quarter face on slimmer horse; sash with two loose ends; sword more pointed; mm. castle. Lockett 10 to 12. The reverse dies do not yield to such a classification. They all exhibit a garnished shield, circumscribed with the legend: CHRISTO AVSPICE REGNO; the shield is more or less oval, except on no. 12 where it is circular. Of the sub-varieties the reverses have been identified from the following sources.
52 THE SILVER CROWNS OF TRURO AND EXETER UNDER CHARLES I Nos. 4a British Museum (Lockett reference). 8a British Museum (Lockett reference). 8b, c, d Lingford catalogue: Oct. 1950, lots 188-90. 1 9a Same reverse as on no. 11 (Lockett). 11a Same reverse as on no. 9 (Lockett). 12a, c Lingford catalogue: Oct. 1950, lots 197, 199. 1 12b British Museum (Lockett reference). 12d Lockett's description (two-pellet stops), and B.M. 12e to j Lockett describes the group as having garnishing below the shield as on no. 8, i.e. plainer than on most of the earlier numbers: 12e and f have a pellet below the garnishing, but 12g, h, and i have not; 12j has no pellet before CHRISTO. 12e, f Not separately distinguished by Lockett who saw in the B.M. 12e which (as his paper appeared with the proceedings of the B.N.S. for 1936/7) is assumed to be a 1935 accession. A later accession within the description has been taken to represent 12f, which Lockett had seen in Mr. A. F. Baldwin's collection. Both the Lingford catalogue, and that of H. G. Paget (1946) indicate four varieties of Lockett 12e or f, but unfortunately none was illustrated. 12g, h, i Not separately distinguished by Lockett who saw them in Mr. Baldwin's collection. Lingford and Paget each indicate without illustration only one coin in this subgroup, but the writer has recorded two (q.v.). It is possible that there has been some confusion between this subgroup and 12e or f, as 12e or f (var. 2) might be included within the subgroup g, h, i; the pellet-like projection at the base of the shield adjoins the garnishing. 12j British Museum (Lockett reference). Lockett no. 1. rev. Lockett no. 10. obv. Specimens of this series that are both well struck and well preserved are difficult to obtain. Many were poor strikings on irregular flans, doubtless a reflection of the uncertain times; some of the best strikings seem to be examples of Lockett no. 1, on which the work is of fine quality. A reverse of the latter is reproduced above, together with an obverse of Lockett 10, on which the horse and rider are very clear. The table describes in columnar form the mint-marks and the main distinguishing features of the reverses by means of which they will generally be verified. In the 'remarks' 1 Lockett states that varieties 8b and c were in the mens of these together with 8d are illustrated. A collection of Mr. A. F. Baldwin. In the Lingford similar remark applies to 12a and c. Hence the attricatalogue prepared by Mr. A. H. F. Baldwin speci- buttons.
THE SILVER CROWNS OF T I W 0 AM EXETER TOUGM. C 3 B M B I eolwanm. aire noted, mier «!», die lam seet m. M e ttftan mat apbbm«ag itt & jparfhte, kfmwr, that striking^ may exist without stack fc.m. Vamiisaijes @ff msa. 1 aunt 12te r SJ, haw teen. Included where they seem t he eeffigssttesit wimh tte dtetibctifiimfc. It Is not easy to generalize about the rarity of the rftfte Tan ami iemmeir series but a few indications, with wfakh the aiattor agpees, ane alfeimtol lbs? tife sate catalogues of three major collections, metaling thai; of L^dfe^ MmaseiF:: H. E. G. Paget H. M. Lingtbrd R, C. Loekett 1946 Oct. 1950 Oct. 1956 ei sea. Lockett no. 2 Described by Paget. Lingford, and Lodkettt aas "wary iaae\ 5 Not in Paget, or Lockett, but described fia Liea^arf. as "wsty mm", 8b Not in Paget or Lockett; no comment in LingfoisL 10 Described as 'extremely rare* by Paget, who iteanses Sat (km was no specimen in Montagu, Murdoch, or Wakfey. AMuoiBigfe tife throe collections cited were dispersed well before LoefceHfs wstfe was psfflfelished, the observation was made possible becausetfbsfis mcfety las ttfce unique mint-mark combination of obverse castle aiiid lercesrs rose, Also described as 'extremely rare' in Lingford and as 'Smrj Juacfaftt. 12j Not in Paget, Lingford, or Lockett. A specimen of 8b is in the Heberden Coin Room.; specimens of the otter fosir at in the British Museum. Examination and comparison of the reverse dies of the whole series stew that a segment of each die containing the mint-mark and, where applicable, the date, is sufficiently distinctive for identification. These are accordingly reproduced n the two plates. (Pis. VII and VIII). In conclusion the writer wishes to express thanks for courtesies in. being allowed to study the holdings of the series in the British Museum, and in the Hefeerden. Cola Room at the Ashmolean Museum. Lockett no, Truro 1 2 3 4 4a 5 Exeter 6 7 7 var. Obv. die I Jfa lib Mm. Rose Pellets by mm. 0 Date 1644 TABLE Numerals of date Compressed Spread Reverse die Head of harp Bird Bird 7 Bird 'Fine work' "Baireited garniture* Plainer garnishing Upper scrolls of garnishing bear projections as on many later varieties Garnishing as on 4a Mm. divides dale Flaw by 1 of date Date very eiose to mm. Garnishing plainer at base of shield
54 THE SILVER CROWNS OF TRURO AND EXETER UNDER CHARLES I Reverse die Mm. Pellets Date Numerals Head of Remarks by mm. of date harp Lockett Obv. no. die I. r. 8a lib Rose 1 0 1644 Small Bird Date close to o of REGNO 8b If a 0 0 11 Spread Last 4 of date close to mm. 8c li li 2 1 iy Small Two pellets before date 8d a 1 0 11 Spread STO of CHRISTO closed 9 a Ex 1 1 1645 Same die as 11a 9a a 1 1 1645/4 Same die as 11 10 III Rose 1 1 1645 Bird Flaw connects c and E of AVSPICE 11 n Ex 1 1 1645/4 Same die as 9a 11a a 1 1 1645 Same die as 9 12 it Castle 1 1 1645 Bird 12a n 1 1» M Flaw connects 4 and 5 of date 12b a» 1 0 1 of date is blundered 12c ii M 1 0» Spread,, Mm. castle is more rectangular. Flaw by s of CHRISTO. Harp low in quartering 12d a»» 2 2 91 Two-pellet stops throughout See note supra re plainer garnishing on varieties 12e to j. Apart from 12g, h, i, all varieties have a pellet (or projection) below the garnishing, at base of shield 12e a» 1 1,, Large and» Flaw connects 4 and 6 of date spread 12f ii 1 1»» Small >y 12e or f a» 1 1 J> Large and Small pellet in field by harp (var. 1) spread 12e or f li 1 1 s» Large; 4 and I, CHRISTO well spread (var. 2) 5 overlap 12g, h, i a 1 1 J, Spindly Flaws connect 1 and 6 of date 12g, h, i li»» 1 1,1 Spindly 5 of date overlaps pellet close to mm. 12j 11,, 1 0,1 4 and 5 overlap Notes'. On reverses 6, 7, 7 var., 8a, b, d, the mm. has been re-cut to represent a fuller rose blossom. The reverses of the four varieties of Lockett 8 form a minor anomaly: the features of no. 8 were shown by him to have plainer garnishing at the base of shield, and a bird-headed harp. All varieties, however, have the more elaborate kind, while 8b, c, d, have the scroll-headed harp.
TRURO AND EXETER CROWNS PLATE VIII VOL. XLVI
PLATE VIII VOL. XLVI TRURO AND EXETER CROWNS