Esterlin - John I shield

John I of Namur struck these small silver coins while navigating the fractious politics of the Low Countries, where minor counts frequently issued their own sterlings — esterlins — in deliberate imitation of English penny coinage that had dominated regional trade since the late thirteenth century. The type proliferated so widely across the region that distinguishing issues by county requires close attention to mint signatures and shield blazons.

At 0.75 grams, this sits at the lighter end of the regional sterling tradition, suggesting either deliberate debasement or later-period striking as silver supplies tightened.