Compiled by Richard Roberts 1996
Coins of Elizabeth I 1558 – 1603
Fine Gold Sovereign or Double Noble 30 shillings
Gold Pound 20 shillings
Ryal or Noble 15 shillings
Half Pound 10 shillings
Angel 10 shillings
Half Angel 5 shillings
Crown 5 shillings
Half Crown 2 shillings and 6 pence
Quarter Angel 2 shillings and 6 pence
Silver Shilling 12 pence
Sixpence 6 pence
Fourpence-halfpenny 4½ pence
Groat 4 pence
Threepence 3 pence
Twopence-farthing 2¼ pence
Half Groat 2 pence
Three halfpence 1½ pence
Halfpenny ½ pence
- Pounds and Half Pound coins were minted by Elizabeth I.
Coins of James I 1603 – 1625
Gold Rose-Ryal 30 shillings
Unite 20 shillings
Sovereign 20 shillings
Laurel 20 shillings
Spur-Ryal 15 shillings
Half Sovereign 10 shilling
Half Laurel 10 shillings
Angel 10 shillings
Double Crown 10 shillings
Half Angel 5 shillings
Quarter Laurel 5 shillings
Britain Crown 5 shillings
Thistle Crown 4 shillings
Gold or Silver Crown 5 shillings
Gold or Silver Half Crown 2 shillings and 6 pence
Silver Shilling 12 pence
Sixpence 6 pence
Half groat 2 pence
Penny 1 pence
Halfpenny ½ pence
Copper Farthing ¼ pence
Notes:
- In 1603 the weight of the gold Pound was reduced, and the new coin called a Unite.
- In 1612 all gold coins had their values increased by 10%, but in 1619 new lighter coins (Laurels, Spur-Ryals and Angels) were introduced at their original values.
- In 1613 James I prohibited the practice of Tokens as they were a breach of the Royal prerogative.
- In 1619-25 copper oval shaped Farthing Tokens were minted for circulation in Ireland.
Coins of Charles I
The following coins were manufactured from Charles’ succession in 1625, until the formal start of the First English Civil War on August 22nd 1642.
Gold Unite 20 shillings
Angel 10 shillings
Double Crown 10 shillings
Crown 5 shillings
Silver Half Crown 2 shillings and 6 pence
Shilling 12 pence
Sixpence 6 pence
Groat 4 pence
Threepence 3 pence
Half Groat 2 pence
Penny 12 pence
Halfpence ½ pence
Copper Royal Farthing ¼ pence
Rose Farthing ¼ pence*
* Rose Farthings manufactured privately by The Duchess of Richmond. (1624 – 34).
The licence was later held by Lord Maltravers. (1634 – 44 ).
The term “Mark” was in common usage to denote 13s 4d. It was not an actual coin.
1½ marks were 20s
1 mark was 13s 4d
¾ mark was 10s
½ mark was 6s 8d
¼ mark was 3s 4d
Notes:
- Trading tokens were only manufactured from 1648.
- The Guinea did not become a unit of currency until 1663.
- In 1638 the smallest coin current in New England had a value of 2 Pence.
- In each week of August 1653 at the Tower of London, coins to the value of twenty thousand pounds were minted.
Exchange rates.
English / French
On September 4th 1625 at Titchfield a proclamation by Charles I made current in England the silver coin of France called “Cardecues” at a value of 1 Shilling and 7½ Pence.
In 1645 at St.Malo 1 Franc was equal to 1 Shilling and 6½ Pence.
In 1653 1 Livre was equal to 1 Shilling and 3 Pence.
English / Fleming
In 1629 (at Antwerp).
100 Guilders = 200 Shillings
Rix Dollar = 4s 11d
Lion Dollar = 3s 11d
Spread Eagle = 2s 10d
Flemish Shilling = 6d
Gold Rider = 21s 6d
11 Guilder 6 Stivers = 22s 6d
There were 12 Stivers to 1 Guilder. Therefore 1 Stiver is approximately equal to 2 pennies (half a groat).
Silver “Portcullis” money was minted in 1600 specifically for the Company of Merchants trading to the East Indies. These “Testerns” were minted to an exact equivalent weight in silver to the Spanish “Real”.
8 Testerns equal weight of silver to 8 Reals
4 Testerns 4 Reals
2 Testerns 2 Reals
1 Testern 1 Real
Interest rates
The statutory maximum rate of interest for the years’ 1639-40 was 8%. Henry Best, a yeoman farmer from Elmswell recorded an interest rate of 6% in 1645. The following year 1646, Adam Eyre a yeoman farmer from Peniston in his “Dyurnall” recorded a rate of 7%. from September 14th 1645. A year later Eyre shows a five year loan of one hundred pounds at a 6% rate. Note that Eyre was in debt, and a more normal rate of interest for those years was perhaps 4%. Also see the interest rate charged on the Berry Farm mortgage in 1638.
Prices for gold, silver and pewter.
In 1654 Gold bullion is recorded in London as having a value of £2 10s 3¾d per ounce.
The highest point for silver being in 1643 when objects mortgaged by Winchester Corporation attained the rate of sixty pence per ounce, (5 shillings)
In 1638 at Southampton the price of pewter is recorded as being 5/8d per ounce. (0,625d)
Silver:
1635 4s per ounce
1643 5s per ounce
1654 3s 9d per ounce
Notes:
- Gold was struck in two standards of fineness. Standard gold 23 carats 3½ grains. Crown gold 22 carats.
- In 1603 silver was restored to the standard before Henry VIII debasement. i.e. 11oz 2dwt of silver to 18dwt alloy.
- Both Henry VIII and Edward VI minted Farthings, Elizabeth did not. (See Pledges)
- Henry VIII minted a silver Testoon worth 1 Shilling reduced in value from July 1551 to 9 Pence then to 6 Pence.
- In 1574 Shopkeeper’s Tokens were manufactured in lead, pewter or tin, the scheme did not mature and an undated proclamation prohibited these Tokens and legalised a limited tender of ½d and ¼d “Pledges” made of pure copper.
- In 1577 the City of Bristol was granted a licence to make its own copper ¼d square or diamond shaped coinage.
Source:
Standard Catalogue of British Coins. Seaby Numismatic Publications. London 1968
Standard Catalogue of British Coins. Seaby Numismatic Publications. London 1990
Calendar of State Papers Domestic Series Charles I 1625-49. HMPRO. 1897.
Calendar of State Papers Colonial 1574-1660. HMPRO. London.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1625-26. HMPRO. London.
Calendar of State Papers Domestic 1654. HMPRO. London.
Calendar of the Clarendon Papers. Bodliam Library Vol. I, 1523-1649. Clarendon Press
Calendar of the Clarendon Papers. Bodliam Library Vol. III, 1649-1654. Clarendon Press
The Early Churchwarden’s Accounts of Hampshire. J.F. Williams. Simkin. London 1913
English Coins. G.C. Brooke. Methuen. London 1955.
The Story of British Coinage. Seaby. London 1985.
The Civil War in Hampshire. G.N. Godwin. Oxley. Alresford.
Southampton Record Society, Book of Examination and Depositions. Vol 3 HCRO)
The King’s Servants 1625-42. G.E.Aymer. Routledge and Kegan. London 1974
Dyurnall of Adam Eyre, yeoman. Sheffield University Library.
The Farming and Memorandum books of Henry Best of Elmswell 1642.D. Woodward. The Oxford University Press. 1984