Coins - Page 1 of 2

This is only a very superficial look at the coins found on the Mary Rose.

The Mary Rose was not a treasure ship, the amount of coinage carried on board would have been personal money and that carried for pay/expenses. Bearing this in mind, it is not surprising that only 27 high-value gold coins were found on the ship. Silver coinage was carried on board, but unfortunately silver mineralises and turns into a blackened mass, making it difficult or even impossible to distinguish individual coins. We believe that the number of silver coins recovered are in the three figure range. Fifteen copper-alloy tokens were also excavated.

Gold Coins

Angels:
Eighteen of the gold coins were the type known as angels. These have a representation of a ship bearing a coat of arms on one side and St Michael spearing a monster (a representation of the devil) on the other. The angel was introduced in the first reign of Edward IV (1461-70) to replace the noble, and was initially valued at 6s.8d. In 1526 the value of the angel was increased to 7s.6. With the third coinage of 1544 the value of the angel increased again to 8s., despite the increased debasement of the coinage. The purity of gold coins was reduced, firstly to 23 carat, then 22 and finally 20 carat.

The coins that have been dated are as follows:

Edward IV, 2nd reign 1471-83: 3
Edward V?: 1
Henry VII: 1
Henry VII?: 1
Henry VIII, first coinage, 1509-26: 2
Henry VIII, third coinage, 1544-47: 2

Angelet or Half Angel:
Only one of these was found on the Mary Rose, from Edward IV's second reign (1471-83). The angelet was introduced in the short second reign (1470-71) of Henry VI.

Half Sovereign:
There are five Half Sovereigns in the collection, all appear to come from Henry VIII's reign, with three identified as belonging to the third coinage. One has a London mint mark. These coins have the royal arms on one face and a rather elderly and grumpy looking monarch on the other. These coins were worth 10s. in 1545.

 

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