Crown (English coin)
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (January 2023) |
The crown, originally known as the "
History
The first such coins were minted in 22 carat "
The silver crown was one of a number of European silver coins which first appeared in the 16th century, all of which were of a similar diameter (about 38 millimetres) and weight (approximately one ounce)[troy?], so were more or less interchangeable in international trade. English silver crowns were minted in all reigns from that of Elizabeth I. The Charles II Petition Crown, engraved by Thomas Simon, is exceptionally rare.
The composition of the silver crowns was the sterling silver standard of 92.5 per cent silver and 7.5 per cent copper, established in the 12th century by Henry II. This was harder-wearing than fine silver, yet still a high grade. The hardness discouraged the practice of "clipping", and this practice was further discouraged (and largely eliminated) with the introduction of the milled edge.
With the creation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, the English crown was superseded by the British crown, which is still minted, although since 1990 with a face value of five pounds.
Gallery
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Crown of Anne (1703)
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Crown of William III (1695)
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Gun money crown (base metal) of James II (1695)
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Crown of Charles II (1676)
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Crown of Oliver Cromwell (1658)
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Crown of Charles I (1625)
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Gold "thistle" crown of James I (1609–1610)
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Crown of Elizabeth I (1602)
References
- ^ The Story of the Crown Archived 2012-02-13 at the Wayback Machine at 24carat.co.uk