The first coins of Great Britain were of tin, according to Cæsar’s authority, who mentions the “tin money of Britain,” which has lately been sustained by the discovery, in some work of excavation, of coins of that metal in antique design. These coins are, however, of little use, by reason of the obscure inscription, or rather the frequent absence of all device.
The English collection in the Cabinet begins with a coin made after the stater of Greece, presenting the head of Minerva, with Greek helmet on obverse, while the reverse gives the figure of a woman most crudely drawn. It is supposed this rude attempt at art was coined about the time of the Roman invasion. Note the contrast presented in placing this relic by the side of the Victorian sovereign, where, on the obverse, is the queen’s head superbly cut; on the reverse, Wyon’s inimitable figure of Una and the Lion. These two coins are the Alpha and the Omega of British coinage, while the thousands issued between them are progressive links to civilization.
Two small coins are placed here, thought to be contemporary with the Christian era, having no device, but an attempt to portray the sun on one side. No. 2 is the skeattae of Ethelbert I, king of Saxony, and is the first Saxon coin which has yet been appropriated. It bears upon the obverse the head of the king; on the reverse is the figure of a bird.
Next in interest is No. 6, the penny of William the Conqueror. The bust of that famous monarch is attempted; 1068 is about the year it is supposed to have been made. During the three centuries following, the condition of England, whether she was at peace or war, is plainly indicated by her coinage. Every added province is memorialized in coin. The rose, thistle, and fleur-de-lis, all tell in strange language for flowers of bloody battles, long sieges, perils by the sea and land; at last all resistance bowing before the ever-increasing power of Great Britain.
The first coin of English issue was dated in 1553, being either the close of Edward VI.’s or the beginning of Queen Mary’s reign. This is claimed by many to be the first coin dated, though old medals of the preceding century have been found with date.
In 1558, the ryal or royal of Queen Elizabeth was issued. On the obverse the queen is grandly enthroned, while the reverse is a large rose, in the centre of which are the Danish arms of Britain, and the arms of Anjou quartered. This coin and the pound sterling of Charles I. are in Case XV., “Selections.”
This pound sterling is one of the famous “siege pieces” of that unhappy king,—which were often made on the field with hammer and anvil out of the family plate brought to the closely-pressed Stuart by his faithful followers. It is to be regretted that so much valuable family plate of no mean workmanship was thus sacrificed. This “siege piece” is the largest silver coin known. The legend upon it, rudely inscribed, is, “Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered;” above are three fleurs-de-lis, with date, “1642.”
In 1684-88, during the short reign of James II., several varieties of new coins were introduced, notably, “Maundy Money,” a small coin made to be distributed by the king on “Maundy Thursday.” Beggars, on that day, received from his majesty bags containing as many maundy pieces as the king had lived years.
King James II. also had issued “gun money.” This variety was made out of old cannon, after the suppression of an Irish rebellion. Though not even giving a glance towards the interesting series of Queen Anne, it is impossible to pass unnoticed the beautiful bust of George IV., by Chantrey, upon a pattern five-sovereign piece. This well-executed bust of “the handsomest man in Europe,” was said to be the means of Sir Francis Chantrey being knighted. That vain monarch was as careful about how his face would appear to future generations as was Alexander of Macedon; and Chantrey well knew if he placed upon the shoulders of sixty years the head of forty years, he had given the cabalistic words which would be the “open sesame” to royal favor.