JOHN. (1199 to 1216.)
Denominations.—Silver. Pennies, Halfpennies, and Farthings.
Obverse.—Type. No English coins of John are known, but there are abundant proofs that coins were during his reign struck to a considerable extent in England. The supposition, amounting almost to a certainty, is that the “short cross” pennies of Henry II. continued to be struck and issued during this reign as well as in the early part of the next. The Irish coins of John have—Penny, full-faced, crowned bust, within a triangle, sceptre in the right hand; on the left of the head a rose. Halfpenny and Farthing, head in triangle, on either side a star; one variety of halfpenny, called the “full moon halfpenny,” has the face filling up the whole field of the coin, the inner circle forming the outline of the face.
Legend. IOHAN. or IOHANNES.—REX or DOM. or DO.—the latter has IOHANNES DOM.; Farthing, WILLEM ON.
Reverse.—Type. Penny and Halfpenny, within a triangle a crescent, above which is a star or cross. Penny, a star at each point and side of triangle; Halfpenny, star on either side the crescent; Farthing, within a triangle a star; “full moon” halfpenny, a voided cross between four annulets, within inner circle.
Legend. Mint master’s and town names; as ROBERD ON DIVE., for Robert of Dublin; WILLEM ON LI, or WILLEM ON LIME, for William of Limerick; or WILLEM ON WA, for William, of Waterford. The Farthing has IOHANNES and DW (Dublin) in continuation of obverse.
Rarity. All very rare, the Farthing more particularly so.