Earliest English Coins.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 37, 11 September 1902, Page 10

Earliest English Coins.

The S&x-ons ooined silver pennies and copper Btieas», or half-farthings. The silver penny weighed 22£ grains, but }n the time of Elizabeth it had dwindled to leas than one-third. Silver halfpennies and farthinga were in use from 1280 to 1560, and groats and half-groats. The first shillings were coined by Henry VII., and were called testoons. Halr-orowns, (sixpences, and threepenny bits were coined by jbdward VI. Gold coin was- introduced by Edward 111. in six-shiiling pieces— nearly equal in size to a modern sovereign. Nobles followed of the value of six shillings and eightpence, and hence the lawyer's fee. Afterwards there were half and quarter nobles. Edward IV. coined angels, with a figure of St. Michael and the Dragon. Henry VIII. coin«d sovereigns and half-sovereigns of ihe modern value. Guineas were the same size, but being of superior gold from sovereigns, guineas passed for twenty-one shillings, and alterwards at thirty shiljings.