[Illustration]
DENOMINATIONS.--_Silver._ Penny, Halfpenny, and Farthing.
OBVERSE.--_Type._ Crowned full-faced bust of the king, with neck and
part of the shoulders draped; crown, consisting of three fleurs-de-lis,
and two lozenges, balls, or points; beneath the rim of the crown, on
the forehead, is a row of from one to five pearls; the hair, which is
very abundant, stands out a considerable distance on either side the
face, and curled; the whole within the inner circle. The Irish mintages
are distinguished by having the head in a triangle, the legend running
on its three sides; there are one or two specimens of English coins
with the triangle, but they are very rare.
_Legend._ E. EDW. [EDWA. EDWAR. EDWARD. EDWARDVS.]--R. REX. or
D.G.R.--A. AN. ANG or ANGL.--D.H. or DNS HYB. There are many opinions
respecting the Pennies of the first three Edwards. The one most
generally received is, that those with the name contracted to EDW.
belong to Edward I.; those with the name in full EDWARD, to Edward
III.; and the intermediate varieties to Edward II. It remains still,
however, a vexed question, and one not easy of solution.
REVERSE.--_Type._ A plain cross, with its terminations enlarged,
extending through to the outer edge of the coin and dividing the legend
into four parts; three pellets in each compartment within the inner
circle.
_Legend._ In every instance except one, which has a moneyer’s name,
ROBERTVS DE HADL., or ROBERT DE HADELIE, consists of the name of the
city or town where struck; as, CIVITAS LONDON. VILL BEREWICI. VILLA
BRISTOLLIE. CIVITAS EBORACI. CIVITAS CANTOR. CIVITAS DVREME. CIVITAS
LINCOL. VILL SCI EDMVNDI. CIVITAS CESTRIE. CIVITAS EXONIE. VIL NOVI
CASTRI. VILL KYNGESTON, etc.
_Rarity._ Pennies common, with the exception of a few mintages. The
Halfpenny and Farthing very rare, the Farthing particularly so.