Jester's Challenge #203

1jester

Welcome to Jester's Challenge, an interactive history lesson.

Inspired by many others here on the Darkside forum, I'd like to present what I hope will turn into a great learning experience for all of us. Many members on this World and Ancient Coin Forum have done a formidable job of sharing with us many fascinating and historically important coins. Since looking at coins is also one of my greatest pleasures, I'd like to try to follow in that time-honored tradition and submit for your pleasure and entertainment some world coins I've come across in my short lifetime.

I will pick out a coin on a regular basis, and post it along with the challenge to you to name the coin, its provenance, denomination, metallic content, mintage, any distinguishing characteristics or noteworthy features, and its value. The more information, the better. I'd like as many people as possible to participate, regardless of how little knowledge you might have on the subject. I appreciate comments on every aspect of the coin, including its history, or its role in human history, or info on similar coins in its series, etc. I myself don't presume to know 1/1000 of what you collectively know, hence my challenge to all of you to share your knowledge with the rest of us. Hopefully this exercise will encourage thought, discussion, and most importantly, more friendship.

Thanks for your participation!!!

Here is the two hundred third selection:

JoesMaName

Ok I'll play - my guess - Charles II of england 3 pence 1690ish?
Probably earlier as I see france's coat of arm's on the back... Just may have to look this up...
Great coin by the way!

Aethelred

Known as the "Undated Maundy," these were designed by Thomas Simon in about 1663 and issued until the first dated Threepence was issued in 1670. Although these were milled, they use a bust very much like that used on the hammered coinage of 1660-62.

1jester

Joe, nice to see you over here! And you're pretty correct.

Aethelred, I didn't know it was a Maundy coin. I thought it was regular circulation strike. Goes to show you how little I know.

1jester

I just read in Spink that although they were referred to as Maundy Money, they were issued for general circulation. I presume this is S-3385.

Aethelred

Groats and Threepence were used for general circulation during this period. There is really no way to tell (as far as I know) if what you have was used as Maundy Money or not, but it is safe to assume not.

python

This is the heading from Coincraft for the Charles II fourpence.

The early silver fourpences were used exclusively as currency, even though they are now commonly referred to
as Maundy coins. The first machine struck small silver coins are often termed the 'undated Maundy' despite the fact
that for well over a century only the silver pennies (and occasionally the silver twopence) were distributed as Maundy
money.

python

Sorry about that. My typing sucks and I have no idea how it came out looking that way.

Aethelred

Thanks for the bit of an education Brett!

python

Michael, I don't know if it's correct or not but that's what it says.