Forger’s coin die
This is one of two iron dies used to strike gold coins that were found in Trichay Street in 1972. This one for striking the English gold half-noble, the other the noble, both coins were from the period 1351-1413.
In the middle ages coins were made by striking a blank disc of precious metal between two engraved iron dies. The process of making the official coinage of England was closely controlled by the crown, and took place only in official workshops. In the later middle ages, Exeter was distant from the approved mints and gold coins were not made in the city. These dies must have been used by a forger to make copies of the official gold coinage at this time and then secretly disposed of.
In the middle ages coins were made by striking a blank disc of precious metal between two engraved iron dies. The process of making the official coinage of England was closely controlled by the crown, and took place only in official workshops. In the later middle ages, Exeter was distant from the approved mints and gold coins were not made in the city. These dies must have been used by a forger to make copies of the official gold coinage at this time and then secretly disposed of.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 300/1988/D2
- Collection Class
- Exeter archaeology
- Collection Area Region
- Northern Europe
- Collector Excavator
- Exeter Museums Archaeological Field Unit
- Material
- iron
- Common Name
- forger’s coin die
- Simple Name
- coin die
- Period Classification
- Medieval (1200-1500)
- Production Year Low
- 1351
- Production Year High
- 1413
