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1/2 Penny - Henry III Short Cross type
| Issuer | Kingdom of England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1216-1247 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1/2 Penny (1⁄480) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A short voided cross pattée divides the reverse into four quadrants, each containing three pellets arranged in a triangular formation, a design characteristic of the Short Cross coinage type. The cross extends to within the inner circle but does not reach the legend, distinguishing this as the Short Cross rather than the Long Cross issue. An inner circle frames the cross design, with the surrounding legend identifying the moneyer and mint in uncial Latin script. The overall composition is typical of Plantagenet hammered silver coinage, struck on a slightly irregular flan with variable die alignment. |
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| Reverse lettering | ELIS ON LVNDE (Translation: Elis of London) |
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| Additional information |
Henry III inherited the throne at nine years old in 1216, and the Short Cross coinage he continued had already been running, largely unchanged, since Henry II introduced it in 1180. The deliberate policy of retaining the name HENRICVS on dies across multiple reigns — to avoid the expense of a complete re-die — means attributing pieces to specific monarchs requires careful attention to stylistic details rather than the inscription itself.
Halfpennies of this period were cut from penny flans rather than struck as discrete coins, which accounts for the dramatic weight variation seen across survivors.