Penny, short cross, 19mm, 1.43gr. Obv: HENRICVS RE; central portrait. Rev: WALTER ON NORTH (Walter is the name of the moneyer, located in Northampton). S:1344, C:H21D-035/40. Contemporary French coins were from  Louis VII and Philip II.

Founder of the Plantagenet dynasty, named for planta genista - a sprig of bloom flower his father wore in his cap. Henry was born in Anjou in 1133 and came to the throne via his mother Matilda when Henry I's other children died. He followed Steven, a cousin, after a period of civil strife in England. Henry died in Chinon and was buried in France.

Steven challenged Matilda's succession and England experienced a period of civil war, until Henry's right of succession was recognized. The Norman kings maintained strong interests and property in France and had very divided interests. Henry engaged in conflict with the Church over royal versus ecclesiastical privilege, which ultimately lead to the death of Thomas a' Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. Henry laid the groundwork for the modern English legal system, including the use of common law and a reformed jury system.

Penny, short cross, 20mm, 1.3gr. Obv: HENRICVS REX; central portrait. Rev: RICARD ON LVND(?), (Richard is the name of the moneyer and located in London - in S, not in C).S1348A, C:R11D-010/15. The contemporary French king was Philip II.

Richard (Coeur de Lion) was the fourth child, and third son, of  Henry II. He was born in Oxford. He was the second post invasion king to actually be born in England, although he spent very little of his time as king in the country, less than a year out of a ten year reign. He married Berengaria, daughter of Sancho VI of Navarre. They had no children, although Richard had several illegitimate children. He died and was buried in France, as the result of a battle injury.

Richard was a crusader and spent much of the time of his reign in the Holy Lands. He traveled (in a loose sense) with Philip Augustus of France to the Holy Lands, to keep him from going after Richard's lands in France. Richard was captured by Duke Leopold of Austria who turned him over to the HRE Henry VI, who, in turn,  held him for ransom. While away Philip seized Richard's lands in France and brother John tried to seize the English throne. After release from captivity, Richard righted both wrongs.

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Anglo Gallic denier, 18mm, .82gr. Obv: +RICA/RDYS/W(omega). Rev: +AQUITANIE, central cross. North 3885.

Penny, short cross 1205-16, 20mm, 1.48gr. Obv: HENRICVS REX, central portrait. Rev: ABEL ON LVNDE (Abel is the name of the moneyer, located in London) S:1351, C:JH1D-025/30. The contemporary French king was Philip II.

John, the eighth legitimate child of Henry II, succeeded his brother Richard. He was born in Oxford on Christmas eve in 1166. He married two Isabella's. The first marriage to Isabella, daughter of William, Earl of Gloucester, was annulled on the basis of consanguinity. His second marriage was to Isabella of Angouleme. They had five children. John earned the nickname "Lackland" because while his brothers inherited lands on the death of their father, John did not. He died in Lincolnshire in 1216.

John lacked the personal strength of his father and was in conflict with the English Barons over the control of privilege. In this conflict he first challenged, and finally allied himself with the Church, against his secular enemies. His Barons did not support him in his conflict with Philip of France and resented the taxation he imposed. In the face of the threat of armed revolt, John acquiesced to their demands and signed the Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215. He died before he could overturn the Magna Carta, which remains a central legacy of the age.

AR short cross penny, 19mm, 1.38gr. Obv: HENRICVS REX, central portrait. Rev: ROGER ON CANT, central short cross with three pellets in each quadrant. S 1356A, class 7A; C:H31D-015.

Henry was born in 1207 at Winchester Castle. He succeeded his father John in 1216, at the age of nine. He married Eleanor (of Provence) who became queen consort and ultimately died a nun. They had nine children and their first, Edward, succeeded him as king on Henry's death in 1272. He lost his holdings in Normandy (he inherited the title of Duke of Normandy from his father) as a result of the Treaty of Paris.

Henry was recognized as the legitimate heir to John, so smoothed over the baronial problems for the moment. Henry came to rely on foreign (Provence and Poitou) advisors, who were resented by the English Barons. This conflict caused the period to be a time of erosion of royal privilege and what Churchill calls the "seed time of our Parliamentary system.." It was epitomized by the Parliament of 1265. Simon de Montfort played a key role the Baronial challenge to the king.

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Penny - class 11, 1247-72, long cross, 18mm, 1.34gr. Obv: HENRICVS REX TERCI; central portrait. Rev: NIC/OLE/ONL/VND (Nicole of London - moneyer and mint).  The long cross was to show if the coin had been clipped. S:1361, C:H31D-050. The second coin, 17mm, is the same. The contemporary French kings were Philip II,  Louis VIII,  Louis IX,  Philip III..

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AR penny, 17mm, 1.42gr. Obv: HENRICVS REX, central portrait. Rev: WILLEM ON CANT, long cross with three pellets in each quadrant. S 1373, class 5G; C:H31D-110.

Penny: long cross, class 3, 19mm, 1.35gr. Obv: EDWR ANGL DNS HYB, central portrait. Rev: CIV/TAS EBO/RACI, long cross quartered with three pellets, York mint. S:1388, C:E11D-580. Contemporary French kings were Philip III and Philip IV.

Edward was born in the Palace of Westminster in 1239 and became king in 1272. He was known as ‘Longshanks' due to his height, and has the reputation as a strong king. He trained English troops with the longbow, which was used so effectively against the French in the 14th century. He conquered Wales and Scotland and established independence from the papacy. He developed Parliament and was also known as the ‘Lawgiver.' Edward married first Eleanor of Castile (16 children) and then Margaret, daughter of Philip III of France (three children). He died in 1307.

England was extending her borders, first bringing Wales under the crown, and then warring with Scotland, constantly having to deal with a restive nation to the North. After 30 years of peace (1259+) war broke out with France and Scotland. The English were defeated at Sterling and revenged themselves at Falkirk. Edward was known as "Hammer of the Scots." He was interested in issues of law and justice and in administrative reform and he broadened representation in the ‘model' Parliament, laying the foundation for non-noble participation in government. At this time London was the largest city in England, with about 40,000 inhabitants.

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Penny, 20 mm, 1.33gr. Obv: +.EDW REX ANGL DNS HYB, facing crowned bust. Rev: .CIVITAS CANTOR, cross with three pellets in each quadrant. Canterbury mint. S 1397, class ed; C:E11D-190.

Penny, long cross, 17mm, 1.15gr. Obv: EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB, (Edward King of England, Lord of Ireland), central crowned portrait, large face. Rev: CIVITAS LONDON.  S:1463, C:E21D-125 class 15c. Contemporary French kings were Philip IV,  Louis X, Philip V and Charles IV.

Edward was born in 1284 in Wales and was the first English Price of Wales.  He became king on his father's death in 1307. He married Isabella, daughter of Philip IV of France. This marriage lays the foundation for the war of French succession - the Hundred year's War. Edward abdicated in favor of his son and was murdered in 1227.

Compared to his father, he was relatively ineffective (a "perverted weakling" according to Churchill). Domestically he witnessed the erosion of royal power and was ineffective on the battlefield.  He led the English to put down a Scottish revolt and was soundly defeated at Bannockburn. By the Treaty of Northampton in 1228 Scotland was recognized as a free nation. He was essentially overthrown by Roger Mortimer, who was the lover of Edward's French wife.

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Penny, long cross, class 11b. 17mm, 1.35. Obv: EDWAR ANGL DNS HYB,  crowned portrait. Rev: CIVITAS CANTOR (Canterbury). Mint administration was centralized, moneyer's name disappeared. The Canterbury mint pairs with Edward's class 11 pennies. Edward I also apparently had coins from Canterbury with this obverse. Paul Torongo from Holland cites Seaby/Spink 2003 p156 1412 as matching this description. North (1013) cites this obverse with large lettering and notes "A scarce variety with an annulet on the breast - Abbot of Reading's die." Pending further insight I'll leave the attribution as Edward II. S1419, c:e21d-055.

Half groat 1361, treaty transition period, 21mm, 2.17. Obv: EDWARDVS REX ANGL DNS HIB, central crowned portrait. Rev inner circle: CIVITAS LONDON, outer circle: POSVI DEVM ADJUTOREM MEVM (I have made God my helper). Cross mint mk. S:1611, C:E32D-055. Contemporary French kings were  Charles IV, Philip VI,  Jean II and
Charles V.

Edward was born in Windsor Castle in 1312. He married Philippa of Hainault and they had 13 children between 1330 and 1355. His first son, who never ruled, was known as the Black Prince. Edward succeeded his father in 1227. On the death of Charles IV (1328) Edward claimed the crown of France. He died in Surrey.

Edward had to wrest power from Mortimer and his mother before he could effectively rule. He fought in Scotland and launched an invasion of France. The first fighting was in Flanders. The English bowman was a formidable warrior and a key to a modern, non-feudal army. Edward enjoyed an early victory at Crecy, which saw the success of commoner bowmen over mounted cavalry. Ten years later his son, The Black Prince, captured John le Bon, king of France, at Poiters. The English recaptured much of the lands they had previously lost. Parliament, financing these wars, gained strength during this reign.

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Half groat, type C, 1351-61, 23mm, 2.18gr. Obv: EDWARDVS REX ANGL Z FRAN, crowned central figure. Rev inner circle: CIVITAS LONDON, outer circle:  POSVI DEVM ADJUTOREM MEVM (I have made God my helper), long cross. S:1573, C:E32D-005/30.

Half penny, 12mm, .53gr. Obv: RICARD': REX: ANGL', crowned bust. Rev: CIVITAS LONDON, long cross. S:1699, C:R2HD-010 intermediate issue. ID help courtesy of Paul Withers, who notes he has a similar coin struck from the same obverse die but different reverse die. He notes identification has to be done by portrait type, of which there are no fewer than five versions. Contemporary French kings were Charles V and  Charles VI.

The grandson of Edward III was born in 1367 in Bordeaux. He first married Anne, daughter of HRE Charles IV (no children) and then Isabella, daughter of Charles VI (the Fool) of France, again no children. Richard was deposed by his cousin Henry of Bolingbroke who became Henry IV. He died, perhaps of starvation, in 1400 while a captive in Yorkshire.
 

Feudalism was unraveling in the face of the Black Death. Popular  (in contrast to noble inspired) rebellion broke out in 1381, led by Wat Tyler. Church reform (via Wycliff) became an issue. Richard had a contentious reign, in conflict with Parliament and the nobility. He was deposed after his seizure of John of Gaunt's (the Duke of Lancaster) land was challenged by the Duke's son, Henry of  Bolingbroke, who led a resistance army against Richard.

Penny, 15 mm, .67gr. Obv: +HENRIC REX ANGLIE, facing crowned bust. Rev: CIVITAS DVNOLM, central cross with clover cluster of pellets in each quadrant. Mint is Durham. S1735; C:H41D-055. Id relies on Mark Davidson, given coin condition. Henry IV's coinage was very poor quality and most was removed by Henry V for reissue.

Denier 16mm, .66gr. Obv: heavily clipped  HENRICVS R ANGLE(?), central half protrait holding a sword. Rev: FRA/CIE/DNS/AQI, central cross with two leopards and two lis. Key identifiers are the pellets at the base of each reverse lis, round sword handle, suggestion of an arch ornament on either side of the head. Elias 233h, Roberts 6836/7. This is not an English royal coin, but an Anglo Gallic coin. Henry's English coinage was seriously debased and largely removed from circulation after his reign. It is relatively scarce.

Henry was son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Blanche of Lancaster. He was born in 1367. He married Mary, daughter of the Earl of Hereford and they had seven children. He then married Joan, daughter of Charles II, king of Navarre. His second son, Henry, succeeded him. He died of a leprosy-like disease.

On the death of Henry's father, Richard II prohibited Henry from inheriting his title, angering the nobility. This led to conflict and Henry forced Richard to abdicate and claimed the throne by right of conquest. He was, in fact, a legitimate heir, claiming descent from Edward III. He pursued English interests in France during this time of the Hundred Year's War. His death in 1413 set up a contest for English succession that led to the War of the Roses.

Penny, 16 mm, .95gr. Obv: +HENRI DI GRA REX ANGL (?), facing bust. Rev: LONDON CIVITAS, central cross, three pellets each quadrant. Id is speculative - help appreciated. At the base of the obverse, 'GR' is clear. S 1781; C:H51D-030.

Henry was born in 1387 in Monmouth Castle. As an outgrowth of the Hundred Year's War, he was designated King of France in 1420 but died before this came to fruition. He married Katherine, daughter of Charles VI of France (hence the promise of the throne).They had only one child (Henry VI). Henry died in France in 1422, at Vincennes, to the east outside of Paris.

Henry rode the fever of war with France and again the English invaded. He met the  larger French force at Agincourt in 1415 and triumphed. The French were riven by internal rivalries and after a series of battles Henry was recognized as successor to the French throne. In this time the English were to occupy Paris, with the support of their Burgundian allies. Henry's death left an infant as the claimant to the French and English thrones, to the advantage of the French.

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Penny, long cross, 17mm, .84. Obv: HENRICVS REX ANGL, crowned bust. Rev: CIVITAS EBORACI (York)  S:1785, C:HE1D-075 - but plain cross above crown is clear, not a cross pattee. The contemporary French king was Charles VI.

Calais Groat 1427-30 rosette/mascle, 26mm, 3.21gr. Obv: HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC, crowned central portrait. Rev inner circle: VILLA CALISIE, outer circle:   POSVI DEVM ADJUTOREM MEVM (I have made God my helper), long cross. S:1859, C:H64D-040/45. Sharing the exact same years in his French reign was Charles VII

Henry was born in England in 1421 and became king of England in 1422. When Charles VI of France died in 1422, Henry, by the terms of the Treaty of Troyes, succeeded him as king of France. He was so crowned in Notre Dame in 1431. He was deposed in England by Edward IV in 1461, re-instated in 1470, and deposed again in 1471. He married Margaret of Anjou and they had one son. He died (was murdered?) in the Tower in 1471.

 Joan of Arc rallied the French against the English, and though she was executed in 1431, the French became ascendent and kept the English on the defensive, driving them out of most of France, leaving them only Calais by 1353. Against the sullen background of the loss of France, the English contested among themselves over the succession of their remaining crown, launching the War of the Roses. Henry lost this round to Edward IV of York.

Groat (4P) 2nd -  1471-83, 25mm, 2.41gr. Obv: EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC, crowned central bust. Rev inner circle: CIVITAS LONDON, outer circle: POSVI DEVM ADJUTOREM MEVM (I have made God my helper).  S:2096, C:E44D-145. Sharing the exact same years in his French reign was Louis XI.

Edward was born in 1442, in Rouen. He was descended from Edward III. His father was Richard, Earl of Cambridge  and mother Cecilia. He married Elizabeth of Woodville and they had 10 children, seven daughters and three sons. He ultimately bested Henry VI for the throne. He died in 1483 and was succeeded by his son, Edward, who died (was murdered) at age 13 in 1483.

Edward came to the throne (twice) in the face of a lack of heir by Henry VI for a period of time (he ultimately had a son), and by grace of Henry's insanity. Actual serious fighting for the right to the crown dates from 1460. Margaret, Henry's wife, was a strong force and serious leader of the opposition to Edward and the Yorkists. Edward was an effective warrior and ultimately prevailed on the battlefield and won the crown.

AR penny, 14mm, .62gr. Obv: legend obscured, central head with ‘S’ on breast. Rev: obscure legend, central cross with 3 besants each quadrant. Mint is Durham. Seaby 2169; North 1687; Coincraft R31D-202. Had this coin been unclipped the legend would have read RICARD DEI GRA REX (ANGL) and rev: CIVITAS DURHAM.