_Gold._ The _Gold Penny_ of Henry III. was the first gold coin struck by any English monarch; it is therefore important as marking a new era in numismatics. The weight is forty-five grains, and it is of pure, unalloyed gold. On the _obverse_ is a full length robed and crowned figure of the king seated on a throne or chair of state, with sceptre in right hand, and orb and cross in the left. Legend HENRIC REX III. _Reverse_, a long double or voided cross and pellets, a rose between the pellets in each compartment. This coin has fetched at sales as much as £140. From this time till Edward III., no other gold coins were struck by English monarchs. EDWARD I. (1272 to 1307.) [Illustration] DENOMINATIONS.--_Silver._ Penny, Halfpenny, and Farthing. OBVERSE.--_Type._ Crowned full-faced bust of the king, with neck and part of the shoulders draped; crown, consisting of three fleurs-de-lis, and two lozenges, balls, or points; beneath the rim of the crown, on the forehead, is a row of from one to five pearls; the hair, which is very abundant, stands out a considerable distance on either side the face, and curled; the whole within the inner circle. The Irish mintages are distinguished by having the head in a triangle, the legend running on its three sides; there are one or two specimens of English coins with the triangle, but they are very rare. _Legend._ E. EDW. [EDWA. EDWAR. EDWARD. EDWARDVS.]--R. REX. or D.G.R.--A. AN. ANG or ANGL.--D.H. or DNS HYB. There are many opinions respecting the Pennies of the first three Edwards. The one most generally received is, that those with the name contracted to EDW. belong to Edward I.; those with the name in full EDWARD, to Edward III.; and the intermediate varieties to Edward II. It remains still, however, a vexed question, and one not easy of solution. REVERSE.--_Type._ A plain cross, with its terminations enlarged, extending through to the outer edge of the coin and dividing the legend into four parts; three pellets in each compartment within the inner circle. _Legend._ In every instance except one, which has a moneyer’s name, ROBERTVS DE HADL., or ROBERT DE HADELIE, consists of the name of the city or town where struck; as, CIVITAS LONDON. VILL BEREWICI. VILLA BRISTOLLIE. CIVITAS EBORACI. CIVITAS CANTOR. CIVITAS DVREME. CIVITAS LINCOL. VILL SCI EDMVNDI. CIVITAS CESTRIE. CIVITAS EXONIE. VIL NOVI CASTRI. VILL KYNGESTON, etc. _Rarity._ Pennies common, with the exception of a few mintages. The Halfpenny and Farthing very rare, the Farthing particularly so. EDWARD II. (1307 to 1327.) DENOMINATIONS.--_Silver._ Pennies, Halfpennies, and Farthings. As I have just remarked, the coins bearing intermediate abbreviations of the king’s name, between EDW. and EDWARD, are, more for convenience than by right, appropriated to this monarch. The description just given will therefore apply to the coins of this reign. EDWARD III. (1327 to 1377.)