Cross and Crosslets
The cross-and-crosslets coinage was introduced by Henry II as an attempt to regulate and replace the erratic and often sub-standard currency which had been the norm in the reign of Stephen. The name 'Tealby' comes from the findspot of a massive hoard of these coins found in Lincolnshire in 1807. A great number of mints opened to undertake the re-coinage, many of which subsequently closed leaving less than half to continue producing coin of the later classes.
A feature of this series is the poor quality of the struck coin, often using irregularly shaped flans and completely legible examples of any of the issues are rare. The series has been divided into 6 classes (A-F) based on variation of the bust and legend.
The general appearance of the coin is thus:
Obverse: Crowned facing bust of king with upper body armoured and visible to coins edge. Sceptre in right hand over right shoulder. Legend reads + HENRI REX A(NG) or variation thereof.
Reverse: Legend reads +(Name of moneyer) ON (mint name) in a band around a cross potent. A small cross potent appears in each of the angles as does a small saltire over the centre of the main cross.
| Class A: circa 1158 - 1161 | |
| Obverse legend: | HENRI REX ANG(L) |
| Bust features: | No hair |
| Discussion: | North has further divided this class into2 sub-types depending on whether a trefoil appears between the mantle and hand of the king (A1) or not (A2). |
| Class B: circa 1161 - 1165 rare | |
| Obverse legend: | HENRI REX AN(G) |
| Bust features: | No hair, varieties of mantle |
| Discussion: | North has further divided this class into 4 sub-classes based on variations in the style of the mantle. B1: Two folds with trefoil between. B2: Two folds with pellet between. B3: Double row of folds either side of a line of pellets. B4: Two folds meeting at the shoulder, pellets on outer fold. |
| Class C: circa 1161 - 1165 | |
| Obverse legend: | HENRI:R:A(NGE) or HENRI:R(EX)A |
| Bust features: | Decorated collar, single curl of hair on right of head, sweeping lines of mantle. |
| Discussion: | North has further divided this class into 2 sub-classes based on the differing legend varities above. In addition C1 has 3 pellets at the wrist and trefoils on the mantle. C2 has a larger, coarser bust and no pellets at the wrist. |
| Class D: circa 1165 - 1168 rare | |
| Obverse legend: | HENRI:REX (RE or RX) |
| Bust features: | Decoration continues on shoulder |
| Discussion: | North further divided this class into 3 sub-types. D1: Collar continues over shoulder with pellets between the lines. Trefoil in angle. D2: AS before but without pellets. D3: Legend reads HEN REX AN or HENRI REX A with mantle on left made up of one line. |
| Class E: circa 1168 - 1170 rare | |
| Obverse legend: | HENRI REX A (REX: or RE) |
| Bust features: | Shoulder not decorated |
| Discussion: | North further sub-divides this class into 3 sub-types based on the ornament beneath the sweep of the cloak on the kings right arm. E1: No ornament below sweep of mantle. E2: Trefoil below sweep of mantle. E3: Pellet below sweep of mantle. |
| Class F: circa 1170 - 1180 rare | |
| Obverse legend: | HENRI REX (A, AN or ANG) |
| Bust features: | Hair in a ringlet to right of bust. |
| Discussion: | North further sub-divides this class into 3 sub-types based on the ornament beneath the sweep of the cloak on the kings right arm. F1: No ornament below sweep of mantle. F2: Trefoil below sweep of mantle. F3: Pellet below sweep of mantle. |
Contemporary Scottish coins
The Scottish coinage that appeared in the years of the cross-and-crosslet coinage of England is not as distinct an imitation as those of the following short cross, long cross and sterling series are. However the coins of Malcolm IV (1153-1165) and the Early issues and Crescent and Pellet coinages of William the Lion (1165-1214) are described here as contemporaries of the English cross-and-crosslet types.
Malcolm IV (Extremely Rare)
Obverse: Legend reading MALCOLM REX around right facing profile bust with sceptre.
Reverse: Cross fleury with pellets or pellets/rosettes in alternate angles.
Class I: As above
Class IIa: Facing bust with two sceptres
Class IIb: Facing bust with two sceptres. Reverse shows cross fleury over lozenge fleury.
Class III: Bust facing right. Reverse shows cross fleury with pellets in the angles, two of which have stalks.
Class IV: Bust facing left. Reverse shows cross fleury with pellets in the angles.
William I 'The Lion'
Early Issues c . 1165-74 (Rare)
Obverse: Legend reading +WILELMVS REX around right (or left) facing crowned profile bust with sceptre.
Reverse: Cross pattee with either lis or crosslet of pellets in angles.
Crescent and Pellet coinage c .1174-95
Class I:
Obverse: Legend reading +WILELMVS REX around left facing crowned profile bust with sceptre (sceptre head is cross pattee like cross and crosslet).
Reverse: Cross pattee with pellet-in-crescents in each angle. The class is divided into 2 sub-types, those with a mint name and those without.
Class II:
Obverse: Legend reading +WILELMVS REX around left facing crowned profile bust with sceptre (sceptre head is cross pommee like short cross coins).
Reverse: Cross pattee with pellet-in-crescents in each angle. The class is divided into 2 sub-types, those with a mint name and those without.
