Monetary History of England Henry II Silver Penny Part III 1154-1470 by Martin A. Armstrong PLANTAGENET KINGS c1154-1399 With the treaty in which Matilda’s son Henery II (1154-1189) came to the throne, the coinage of England did not immediately reflect the political change. The coinage Stephen continued to be minted until 1158 before a new […]

Monetary History of England Part III 600-1153 AD by Martin A. Armstrong The Anglo Saxon Period c 600-c. 775 During the late 6th century AD, the island of Britain began to undergo a rebirth. Renewed political, cultural and commercial links again start to emerge with the kingdom of the Merovingian Franks. Small quantities of Merovingian gold tremisses have […]

Monetary History of England Part I 2nd century BC – 599 AD by Martin A. Armstrong The Birth of the British Monetary System The earliest forms of money in Britain have taken several mediums based upon commodity values. However, Celtic bronze rings are quite common in Britain and served as a medium of exchange. Money […]

Monetary History of Scotland SCOTLAND David I AR Penny Prince Henry AR Penny Malcolm IV AR Penny William I (The Lion) AR Penny Alexander II AR Penny Alexander III 1st Coinage Crude Portrait AR Penny 2nd Coinage Refined Portrait AR Penny AR Half-Penny AR Farthing Margaret AR Penny John Baliol AR Penny AR Half-Penny 2nd […]

Monetary History of Russia The Russian Monetary System began also with cattle (skot) during the Kievan period. Skins of small animals and precious metals were used as fixed-value exchange rate based upon barter goods. Up until the end of the 12th century, cattle was the unit of account but commerce took place with the skins […]

Monetary History of Japan As legend has it, Japan was founded around 660BC by a direct descendent of the Sun Goddess. It is from this basic legend that Japan derives the name of “Land of the Rise Sun.” Japan has a long monetary history which dates back to when coins were first introduced from neighboring Korea […]

Monetary History of France  Gallo-Roman Empire Postumus – 259-268 AD Laelinanus – 268 AD Marius 268 – AD Victorinus – 268 AD Tetricus I – 270-273 AD Tetricus II Caesar – 270-273 AD Burgundian Dynasty 435-532 AD Gundobald (473-516 AD) Sigismund (516-524 AD) Gundomar II (524-532 AD) Merovingian Dynasty 475-751 AD Childeric I (c. 475-481) Clovis I […]

Monetary History of England Henry III First Gold Penny of England Introduction Part I 200BC-599AD Part II 600-1153AD Part III 1154-1470 Part IV 1470-1670 Part V 1670-Date Celtic Coinage Gallo-Belgic Armorican Dynastic issues: Atrebates & Regni Cantii Durotriges Trinovantes Catuvellauni Dobunni Iceni Coritani Roman Britain Roman Anglo Saxon 600-775 AD Kings of Northumbria Northumbria Archbishops of York York Kings […]

Monetary History of China   The monetary history of China extends back in time at least 3,000 years. At first, money was sea shells, namely the cowry shell during the Shang Dynasty. Barter was always a dominant means of exchange in China that remained largely an agrarian society. Merchants and moneylenders were not well regarded […]

Monetary History of Canada Early 1600s: Beaver pelts are the one universally accepted medium of exchange, though wheat and moose skins are also legal tender Mid 1600s: Wampum, or strings and belts made from shell beads, becomes legal tender in colonial New England. Eight white beads or four purple beads buy one penny. June 8, 1685: The […]