Plantagenet Kings AD 1154-1399

Medieval Plantagenet Kings coins for sale.

The Plantagenet family held the English throne from AD 1154, with the accession of Henry II, until AD 1485, when Richard III died at the Battle of Bosworth.
Throughout the dynasty, the penny continued to form the basis of the currency. Henry II introduced the Tealby penny as a new standard to restore public confidence in the currency following civil war, with nearly thirty mints involved. The mint and the moneyer were shown on the reverse of the coin.
In 1180, the Tealby coinage was replaced by the short cross coinage, which again underwent a re-coinage in 1205 under king John, but remained until 1247 in the reign of Henry III, all coins carrying the name ‘Henricus’ on the obverse. A mint at Rhuddlan castle in Wales also struck short cross coinage under Henry II and III, John and Richard I.
Henry III Introduced the long cross coinage in 1247 to try and prevent the practice of clipping, the removal of silver from the edge of the coin. 20 mints were involved with varied activity during the period. Pennies continued to be struck in the name of Henry during the first seven years of Edward I’s reign, and in 1279 a re-coinage took place. Pennies, halfpence and fathings were issued and for the first time the groat (four pence) was issued until 1282, these early examples being scarce and desirable. Pennies and small change continued to be issued under Edward II.
In 1344, during the reign of Edward III , a gold florin (or leopard) coinage was introduced, based on the french currency system, but replaced later that year by the heavier gold noble and its fractions. The silver groat was re-introduced in 1351. Following the treaty with France, a mint was also operational in Calais from1363, which closed under Henry IV, re-opening late during Henry V’s kingship.
The weight standard for gold and silver remained the same during the reign of Richard II.