Fourthlings

[robfinds]

Went back to the late Saxon/ Norman market site this afternoon. As I've mentioned before, signals on this well worked site are few, and far between now. It's a site where you simply just wander very slowly, and the rare signals, actually make you jump. Pleased with the results today, two tiny hammered silver cut quarters. These coins were cut into quarters, to make them farthings, worth one quarter of a penny, from the old English fourthling. The one on the left looks I think Scottish, the one on the right, I am fairly sure is English Henry I, 1100-35 cross fleury type. The coinage of Henry I tended to be of very poor quality. In 1124 Henry came up with a solution to this. All of the moneyer's found guilty of producing poor coinage, were arrested, and had their right hands cut off, and for good measure were also castrated ( medieval incentive bonus ). I will send some pictures to the Fitzwilliam museum to record the Henry I in the week, hopefully they can give some info on it, mint or moneyer. Robert.

 

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[Westfront]

I bet that worked well for Henry....and would work still today.

Oh, and great finds! You swing the coil slow and low!

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Awesome recoveries!

 

[pepperj]

Your on your game Rob, getting those cut quarters are no small feat. Congrats on the two, smashing day in my books.

 

[joe_dirt]

Went back to the late Saxon/ Norman market site this afternoon. As I've mentioned before, signals on this well worked site are few, and far between now. It's a site where you simply just wander very slowly, and the rare signals, actually make you jump. Pleased with the results today, two tiny hammered silver cut quarters. These coins were cut into quarters, to make them farthings, worth one quarter of a penny, from the old English fourthling. The one on the left looks I think Scottish, the one on the right, I am fairly sure is English Henry I, 1100-35 cross fleury type. The coinage of Henry I tended to be of very poor quality. In 1124 Henry came up with a solution to this. All of the moneyer's found guilty of producing poor coinage, were arrested, and had their right hands cut off, and for good measure were also castrated ( medieval incentive bonus ). I will send some pictures to the Fitzwilliam museum to record the Henry I in the week, hopefully they can give some info on it, mint or moneyer. Robert.

So they would then have to make coins with their left hand? Not sure how that would improve the quality

 

[Truth]

Wow very impressive finds on those cuts. Great job

 

[robfinds]

So they would then have to make coins with their left hand? Not sure how that would improve the quality

Hello joe, the moneyers were the ones who had minting rights. They were always upper class, and didn't actually do any work, but got all the profits. Even then they were greedy, and many produced coins with less silver in them, then there should have been. Getting back to you're original point though, some could have been left handed. As for being castrated.

 

[TomW244]

Hello joe, the moneyers were the ones who had minting rights. They were always upper class, and didn't actually do any work, but got all the profits. Even then they were greedy, and many produced coins with less silver in them, then there should have been. Getting back to you're original point though, some could have been left handed. As for being castrated.

LOL! Hard to bounce back from THAT! ��

 

[sandchip]

Incredible to to find something that old. Great work on those recoveries!

 

[Normsel]

Choir Boys

 

[joe_dirt]

Choir Boys

Yeah just a career change

 

[dirtdigginfool]

Awesome finds, Rob...I'll slobber all over yours seeing I'll never dig anything like that in my neck of the neighborhood...Not only great finds but great story...thx for sharing, Ddf.

 

[Scrappy]

Excellent early cut silver Rob. I’m sure they weren’t easy to hear. Cheers

 

[CRUSADER]

Went back to the late Saxon/ Norman market site this afternoon. As I've mentioned before, signals on this well worked site are few, and far between now. It's a site where you simply just wander very slowly, and the rare signals, actually make you jump. Pleased with the results today, two tiny hammered silver cut quarters. These coins were cut into quarters, to make them farthings, worth one quarter of a penny, from the old English fourthling. The one on the left looks I think Scottish, the one on the right, I am fairly sure is English Henry I, 1100-35 cross fleury type. The coinage of Henry I tended to be of very poor quality. In 1124 Henry came up with a solution to this. All of the moneyer's found guilty of producing poor coinage, were arrested, and had their right hands cut off, and for good measure were also castrated ( medieval incentive bonus ). I will send some pictures to the Fitzwilliam museum to record the Henry I in the week, hopefully they can give some info on it, mint or moneyer. Robert.

Congrats on those.

Evidence now shows that the 'purge of moneyers' during Henry I (some were killed) actually included those that produced good quality coins. The motivation behind this purge is not as clear as they once thought.

 

[against the wind]

Two tiny targets found during a slow and low wander.
Very nicely done.
Congratulations