The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

324 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
Edward the Confessor and of Henry VII. and his successors, with
the king seated on his throne, are commonly spoken of as being
of the sovereign type, but I am not sure as to the time when
this term originated. As to silver coins, Rose testours were in
the 3rd of Elizabeth valued at fourpence each ; in 3rd and 4th
Philip and Mary their sixpences were called "half-shillings."
Very often a certain sum is said to have been stolen in " numbered
money." In the reign of James I. a gold coin is mentioned
of his kingdom of Scotland " anglice vocat, the sixe
pounde piece of goulde alias the crosse dagger now current in
this kingdom of England." Scottish Riders are described as not
current in England. In his first year mention is made of an
Elizabeth double-sovereign worth twenty shillings: This entry
confirms the evidence of ten-shilling pieces having been com-
monly called sovereigns, as does another entry in his 5th year.
In the 9th year of James thirty pieces of coined gold, called
" twentye shilling pieces," were stolen, worth thirty pounds,
and with them were two thirtye shillinge pieces and twenty-five
angells. These latter are valued at thirteen pounds and ten
shillings, which seems an odd sum. In the 13th year of King
James, and afterwards, his " unites " were worth twenty-two
shillings apiece ; and in his 8th year, two gold fifteen-shilling
pieces are stated to have been stolen. Under Charles I. a rose
noble (printed role is nobls) valued at seventeen shillings and
sixpence ; and, under the Commonwealth, a thirty-shilling piece
of Queen Elizabeth, gold, is valued at thirty shillings. At the
same time was stolen " one piece of gold called a Vespasian,"
which, however, was valued at only twenty shillings. Mr.
Thomas Moore, whose house was broken into, lost numerous
other coins, as well as " one meddall of Kinge Charles and
Queen Maryes worth three pounds and ten shillings." Five of
the burglars were, however, found guilty and sentenced to be
hanged. The counterfeiting of the silver coins, from half-crowns
down to twopenny pieces, seems to have gone on during the
whole time embraced in these Records, but to have been more
prevalent during the latter part. These extracts merely touch
one feature among many of great interest in these Records,
whether regarded from an historical or social point of view, but
will, I trust, be specially acceptable to the members of this
Society.
JOHN EVANS.