Code: 12278
This is a medieval silver Halfpenny of King John struck at the London mint between 1199 - 1216 AD.
Obverse: hЄNRICVS | RЄX "King Henry" Legend around crowned facing portrait, with sceptre in right hand.
Reverse: -------.ON.LVN.D "------- of London"
This coin started life as a penny, but it was necessitated in trade to chop the coins into smaller fractional denominations as halfpennies and farthings. These coins were legal tender and a halfpenny was simply a penny cut in half, whilst farthings (four things) were divided into four parts.
DENOMINATION: Halfpenny
CULTURE: Medieval England
MONARCH: John
DATE: 1199 - 1216 AD
MATERIAL: Silver
SIZE: 17mm x 8mm
WEIGHT: 0.44 grams
ATTRIBUTION: Spink 1351
PROVENANCE: Formerly in a private collection, in Cambridgeshire.
