Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

John (1199-1216), Penny, class Vb2, Canterbury, Iohan M, iohan · m · on · ca, 1.31g/9h (Besly 26, this coin; SCBI Mass 1375; N 970ii; S 1351). Bent, good fine £30-£40

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Parcel of Short Cross Coins from the Llanfaes (Anglesey) Find, 1991-2.

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Collection

This and the following 18 lots comprise a small parcel of the coins found at the site of the medieval town of Llanfaes in Anglesey. Worked by a small team of metal detectorists during the years 1991 and 1992 the site produced at least six hundred coins, spanning the chronological range from Celtic to Victorian times. The vast majority of coins found belong to the so-called ‘Short Cross’ series, current from the reign of Henry II until that of Henry III. Located within the independent Welsh kingdom of Gwynedd, Llanfaes was a site of commercial importance during the thirteenth century; its port attracted significant mercantile activity, while the town itself hosted weekly markets and two annual fairs. Diminished by military activity from 1283 onwards, the town was finally stripped of its significance by Edward I, who ordered the market and the populace to be moved to new nearby settlements. Upon their discovery the coins were presented to Edward Besly at Cardiff Museum, who catalogued and discussed the material in BNJ 1995, pp.46-82. The National Museum Wales arranged to acquire a number of the coins while the remainder were returned to the finders