Identifying the mint on an English hammered coin
Nobody holding a hammered penny knows which mint struck it. What they can see is a small punch at the start of the legend and some abbreviated Latin round the edge — and those two things, between them, are how the mint is established.
Last updated 6 September 2026
The mint is the answer, not the question
Ask a beginner which mint their hammered coin came from and you get a blank look, which is the correct response. The mint is not written on most of these coins in any form a modern reader recognises, and it is not something you know before you start — it is what you work out at the end.
There are exactly two kinds of evidence, and they behave very differently.
| The legend | The initial mark | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The Latin round the edge. From 1279 the reverse of an English penny names the town it was struck in. | A small punch at the start of the legend, recording which batch of dies the coin came from. |
| When it works | Most of the series. Before 1279 the reverse names the moneyer and his town instead, which is the same information in a harder form. | From Edward III onwards only. They do not exist before that, so on a Short Cross penny there is nothing to look for. |
| How good it is | Close to conclusive. The coin is telling you where it was made. | Often ambiguous. Some marks belong to one mint. Many were used at four. |
Where both are available, use both — a Tun mark with CIVITAS LONDON is London twice over. Where they disagree, the legend wins: it is on the object, and the mark tables are a modern compilation. But a mark outside its recorded mint is worth a second look either way — it is either a rarity or a misreading, and both are worth catching.
Reading the mint out of the legend
English hammered legends are heavily abbreviated Latin, cut by hand into a die by somebody who was not always literate, and then worn for six hundred years. They look impenetrable and they are not — there are only a handful of formulae, and the mint almost always sits in the same place.
After 1279: the coin names its town
Edward I’s recoinage of 1279 replaced the moneyer’s name on the reverse with the name of the mint. From then until the end of hammered coinage, the reverse legend of most silver is one of two forms:
- CIVITAS … — “city of”. Used by the cities: CIVITAS LONDON, CIVITAS EBORACI (York), CIVITAS CANTOR (Canterbury), CIVITAS DVREME (Durham).
- VILLA … — “town of”. Used by the towns: VILLA CALISIE (Calais), VILLA BERWICI (Berwick), VILLA NOVI CASTRI (Newcastle).
The Latin form of the place name is the part that catches people out — York is Eboracum, Canterbury is Cantuaria, Durham is Dunelmia. The table in the next section lists every reading recorded, so you do not have to know them.
Before 1279: the moneyer and his town
On earlier pennies the reverse gives the moneyer’s name and the mint, run together and abbreviated brutally: something like SIWARD ON LVND — Siward, at London. ON is the Old English “at”, and everything after it is the mint.
These abbreviations get very short and very ambiguous. LVND, LVNDE, LVNDEN and LVNDENE are all London on different dies. EOF, EFR and EVER are all York. This is why the readings below are listed as alternatives rather than as one spelling per mint.
Very short readings are not usable on their own
The obverse is about the king, not the mint
The obverse legend names the monarch and his titles, and it is the same wherever the coin was struck: EDWARD D G REX ANGL — Edward, by the grace of God, king of England — or the longer forms adding DNS HYB (lord of Ireland) and DVX AQVT (duke of Aquitaine). Useful for the reign, no use at all for the mint.
One exception worth knowing: the religious reverse legends that replace the mint name on gold and on some later silver — POSVI DEVM ADIVTOREM MEVM (I have made God my helper), IHC AVTEM TRANSIENS PER MEDIVM ILLORVM IBAT (but Jesus, passing through their midst, went his way). These name no mint. On such a coin the initial mark is the whole of the evidence.
Mint signatures, mint by mint
Every mint reading in the reference catalogue — 273 of them across 83 mints. Brackets are the source’s notation for letters that may or may not be present on a given die, so LVND(EN) covers both LVND and LVNDEN.
| Mint | Read on the coin as | Reigns |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstaple | BARD(I)BARD | Henry I, William II |
| Bath | BA(DA)BADN | Henry I, William II |
| Bedford | BEDEFOB(E)DBED | Stephen, Henry II, William II |
| Bedwyn | BEDEWIND | William II |
| Berwick-upon-Tweed | VILLA BEREVVICIVILLA BERREVICIVILLA BERREWYCIVIIIA BERVVICIVILLA BEREVICIVILLA BEREWICIVILLA BEREWYCIVILLA BERVICCIVILLA BERVVICIVILLA BEREWYCVILLA BERVICIVILLA BERWICI | Edward I, Edward II, Edward III |
| Bramber | BRAN | Stephen |
| Bridport | BRDPHTBRIPUTBIRD | William II |
| Bristol | CIVITAS BRISTOLLIEVIL(L)A BRISTOLLIECIVITAS BRISTOLICIVITAS BRISTOWVILL BRISTOLIEVILLA BRESTOLLVILLA BRISTOLLVILLA BRESTOWVILLA BRISTOWBRI(GCTSO)BRIS(TO)BRICSIBRICABRISTBRIS | William II, Henry II, Henry I, Stephen, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Henry VI (first reign), Henry VI (restored), Edward I, Edward IV (first reign), Edward IV (second reign) |
| Bury St Edmunds | VILLA SCI EDMVNDIVILA SCI EDMVNDIVILL SCI EDMVNDIVILLA SCI EDMVDIVILA SCI EDMVDIVILLA S EDMVNDIVILLA S EDMVDISAN EDMNEDM DMS EDMSEDMEDM | Stephen, William II, Henry II, Henry I, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III |
| Calais | VILLA CALESIEVILLA CALISIEVILLA CALIS | Edward III, Henry VI (first reign), Henry VI (restored) |
| Cambridge | GRINNTGRANT | William II |
| Canterbury | CIVITAS CANTARCIVITAS CANTORCIVITAS CANTVRCANTLEICA(T)NCATPAICANTOC(NT)CNTLICANTEANTC | Henry I, Stephen, Henry II, William II, Edward IV (first reign), Edward IV (second reign), Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI |
| Cardiff | CAIRDICARITICARDI | William II, Stephen |
| Carlisle | CARLICARDICARDUCARD | Henry I, Stephen, Henry II |
| Castle Rising | RIS | Stephen |
| Chester | CIVITAS CESTRIECESTR(E)CESTRELEGECECESTELEGLLECICES | Stephen, Henry II, Henry I, Edward I, William II |
| Chichester | CIC(ES)CISSANCICESTCICES | Henry I, Stephen, William II |
| Christchurch | TVEHAMTWINTPINTPN | Henry I, William II |
| Colchester | CO(L)ECCOL(E)CO(LE)COLECOLI | Henry I, Stephen, Henry II, William II |
| Coventry | CIVITAS COVETRE | Edward IV (first reign), Edward IV (second reign) |
| Cricklade | CRIC | William II |
| Derby | DERBEREID(E)RBIDERBITDURBI | William II, Henry I, Stephen |
| Dorchester | DORECESDOREC | Henry I, William II |
| Dover | DOFVERDOVERDOF RDOFDOI | Henry I, Stephen, William II |
| Durham | CIVITAS DUNELMIECIVITAS DUNELMISCIVITAS DUNOLMIECIVITAS DVRELMIECIVITAS DORELMECIVITAS DUMOLMECIVITAS DUNOLMECIVITAS DVNOLMICIVITAS DERHAMCIVITAS DIRHAMCIVITAS DUNELMCIVITAS DUNOLMCIVITAS DUREMECIVITAS DURENECIVITAS DURRAMCIVITAS DVNELMCIVITAS DVNOLICIVITAS DVNOLMCIVITAS DVREMECIVITAS DVRRAMVILA DUNO LMIECIVITAS DERAMCIVTAS DVREMEVILA DUNOLMIEVILLA DURREMDUN(E)DVNHOLDVRHAMDVNHO | Edward IV (first reign), Edward IV (second reign), Henry VII, Edward III, Richard II, Henry V, Henry VI (first reign), Henry VI (restored), Richard III, Edward I, Edward II, Henry IV, Henry VIII, William II, Stephen, Henry II, Henry I |
| Exeter | CIVIAS EXONIEEXEC(S)IIEXE(C)EXCIEXCEXEEX | Edward I, Henry I, Henry II, Stephen, William II |
| Gloucester | GLE(PI)GLOECEGLPECGLOWAGEPGLEGLO | William II, Henry I, Stephen, Henry II |
| Guildford | GILDEFGLDF | William II |
| Hastings | AESTIHIESTHAS | William II, Stephen, Henry I |
| Hedon | HEDON | Stephen |
| Hereford | HEREFORIHEREFORHEREFOHEREFHRF | Henry I, Stephen, Henry II, William II |
| Hertford | HRTFRRETEF | William II |
| Huntingdon | HVT(D)HVNTENH(V)HUN | William II, Henry I, Stephen |
| Hythe | HIDEN | William II |
| Ilchester | GIVELCSTIIVELCEGIF | William II, Henry I, Henry II |
| Ipswich | GIP(E)GIPESGIPSPGIPEGIP | Stephen, Henry I, Henry II, William II |
| Kingston upon Hull | VIL' KYNCESTONVILL KYNCESTON | Edward I |
| Launceston | LANTSASTEFNILANSALANST | Stephen, Henry II, Henry I, William II |
| Leicester | LE(I)LEMRELEGRILERECLECELERE | Henry I, William II, Henry II, Stephen |
| Lewes | LAEPESLIEWIELEP(E)LIEIPLEVASLEPLEV | William II, Henry I, Stephen, Henry II |
| Lincoln | CIVITAS LINCOL'CIVITAS LINCOCCIVITAS LINCOLLINCOLN(E)LINCOLLINCLININIC | Edward I, Henry I, William II, Stephen |
| London | CIVITAS DONDONCIVITAS LOIDOICIVITAS LONDONLONDONIENSISLVNDN(E)LVND(EN)LVNDENILVN(I)L(V)ILOUNLUNDLVN | Henry VI (first reign), Henry VI (restored), Henry IV, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II, Henry V, Edward IV (first reign), Edward IV (second reign), Edward V, Richard III, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Philip and Mary, Elizabeth I, Edward I, William II, Stephen, Henry II, Henry I |
| Maldon | MIELMLD | William II |
| Malmesbury | MALME | William II |
| Marlborough | MIERLEBH | William II |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | VIL' NOV' CASTRIVILA NOVI CASTRIVILL NOV' CASTRIVILL NOVI CASTRINOVI CASTRINE(VCAS)NI(VCA)NIV | Stephen, Henry II, Edward I |
| Northampton | NORH(AM)NORHANHMTVIHATVINORHA | William II, Henry I, Henry II, Stephen |
| Norwich | CIVITAS NORVICCIVITAS NORWICNORDPI(C)NORPI(C)NOR(DE)N(ORI)NOREDNORPTNODP | Edward IV (first reign), Edward IV (second reign), Henry I, William II, Henry II, Stephen |
| Nottingham | SNOT(I)NO(T)SNOT | Henry I, Stephen |
| Oxford | OX(ENN)OXNE(F)OX(S)IOXENEOXENOXSN | Henry I, Stephen, Henry II, William II |
| Pembroke | PAINPANPEI | Henry II, Stephen, Henry I |
| Peterborough | BURIBUR | Stephen, William II |
| Pevensey | PEFNESEPEVEN | William II, Stephen |
| Reading | VILLA RADINGY | Edward III |
| Rhuddlan | RUDILI | William II |
| Rochester | ROF ECSROFI | William II, Henry I |
| Romney | RV(ME)RUMERUMN | Henry I, William II |
| Rye | RIE | Stephen |
| Salisbury | SIER(BI)SALEBSEBRSERRSAL | Stephen, Henry II, William II, Henry I |
| Sandwich | SANDPSAN | Henry I, Stephen, William II |
| Shaftesbury | S(EFTE)SC(IE)FSCIEFTS | Henry I, William II, Stephen |
| Shrewsbury | SALOPESSCRUB | Stephen, Henry II, William II |
| Southwark | SVDE(P)SUTHGEWSVDPESDEPSVTP | William II, Stephen, Henry I |
| St Davids | DEVITUM | William II |
| Stafford | STEFFORSTAEFSTAFOSTA | Henry II, William II, Stephen |
| Stamford | STANFSTISTN | Stephen, William II |
| Steyning | STNI(G)(S)TEN | Stephen, William II |
| Sudbury | SVD(I)SVBRSUTBSUDSVD | Stephen, William II, Henry I |
| Swansea | SVENSHISWENSI | Stephen |
| Tamworth | TAMP | William II |
| Taunton | TANTVNT(A)NTTANTVTV | Henry I, Stephen, William II |
| Thetford | DEOTF(ORI)DTF(RD)ITET(F)TETFORFORTDTFTED | Henry I, William II, Stephen, Henry II |
| Totnes | TOTN | William II |
| Tournai | CIVITAS TORNACEN | Henry VIII |
| Wallingford | PALL(IG)PAL(I)P(A)WALLWELL | William II, Henry I, Henry II |
| Wareham | PARHAMPERAWAREPERE | Stephen, Henry I, William II |
| Warwick | PARPICPERIPERPVERIPARWAR | Stephen, Henry I, William II |
| Watchet | PICEDIWACET | William II, Stephen |
| Wilton | PILTUNAPPIL(TV)PILTVPILTPIL | Henry II, Henry I, Stephen, William II |
| Winchcombe | WINCLPNCL | William II |
| Winchester | PIN(CE)PINC(E)PINCEPICESPNCEWINC | Henry I, Stephen, William II, Henry II |
| Worcester | PIRE(CES)PIH(R)PIREC | William II, Henry I, Stephen |
| York | CIVITAS EBORACIEFRP(ICI)IIIFERPEFR(PI)EOF(I)EVERWIEOF EEVEREBOERPEOI | Edward I, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, Henry VI (first reign), Henry VI (restored), Edward IV (first reign), Edward IV (second reign), Richard III, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Henry I, William II, Stephen, Henry II |
Initial marks: what they are and when they start
An initial mark — also called a privy mark or, loosely, a mint mark — is a small heraldic punch at the start of the legend, usually at the top of the coin. A rose, a pheon, a tun, a boar’s head, a sun. It marks a batch of dies rather than a mint directly, which is the source of both its usefulness and its ambiguity.
They begin under Edward III and run to the end of hammered coinage in 1662. Before Edward III there are none, so on an Anglo-Saxon, Norman, Plantagenet or early Edwardian coin the legend is the whole of the evidence.
What a mark does establish is a date, often to within a couple of years, because the dies were changed on a schedule and the sequence is known. On a coin with no date — which is nearly all of them — that is frequently more useful than the mint.
A mark is a shape, not a word
When a mark points at four mints
This is the normal case and it is worth being comfortable with. A great many marks were used at several mints in the same period, and the honest answer for such a coin is a list rather than a name.
The way through is to combine the two kinds of evidence rather than to pick. A mark used at London, Calais and York narrows the field to three; a legend reading VILLA CALISIE settles it. The identifier does exactly this — it intersects the two, reports what is left, and says which piece of evidence did the work.
What it will not do is choose one of four and present it as a fact. A mint that appears with no account of where it came from is indistinguishable from one somebody typed, and six months later nobody can tell which. Given a genuine ambiguity, the useful output is the ambiguity.
Three worked examples
A Short Cross penny of Henry II — no mark at all
Struck long before initial marks existed, so there is nothing at the top of the legend to find. The reverse reads something like WILLELM ON LVND. Everything after ON is the mint: LVND is London, and WILLELM is the moneyer, which is a separate and equally collectable fact. London, from the legend alone.
A Charles I shilling with a Tun mark
The tun — a barrel — is one of the Tower marks of the early 1640s, and it is the sort of mark that dates a coin closely. The reverse legend on a Tower shilling of this period carries no mint name, so the mark is doing all the work here. Tower, therefore London — and the Tower of London is the London mint, so the two are not in competition. The distinction a collector actually cares about is Tower under the king against Tower under Parliament, which is a reign period rather than a different mint.
An Edward IV groat with a mark used at three mints
Say the mark narrows it to London, Bristol and York. Now read the reverse: if it says CIVITAS EBORACI the answer is York and the mark simply agrees. If the reverse is illegible, the honest answer is “one of three” — and that is still a useful thing to have written down, because it is three rather than twenty.
Try it on your own coin
The identifier does all of the above: pick the reign, find your mark among the drawings, type whatever you can read of the legend, and it shows the mint the evidence supports along with the sentence explaining how it got there. It runs in your browser and needs no account.
Open the mint identifierEvery recorded mark, reign by reign
187 distinct marks across 20 reigns, with the mints they are recorded at and the years they were in use. Where a mark was used at several mints they are all listed — see the section above for what to do about that.
Edward III, 1327–1377
8 marks recorded · Calais, London, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross 1 Broken | Calais, London, York | 1352 - 1353 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross 1 Pommee | Calais, London, York | 1351 - 1352 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross 2 | Calais, London | 1345 - 1355 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross 3 | Calais, London, York | 1356 - 1361 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pattee | Calais, London | 1334 - 1351, 1369, 1377 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Plain | Calais, London | not recorded | Information Unknown, Mint unknown but could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Potent | Calais, London | 1361 - 1369 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Crown | London | 1356 |
Richard II, 1377–1399
1 mark recorded · Calais, London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Pattee | Calais, London | 1377 - 1399 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section |
Henry IV, 1399–1413
2 marks recorded · Calais, London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Pattee | London | 1399 - 1314 | ||
| Crown | Calais | 1399 - 1314 |
Henry V, 1413–1422
3 marks recorded · London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Pattee | London | not recorded | Unknown Date | |
| Cross Pierced | London | not recorded | Unknown Date | |
| Cross Pierced With Central Pellet | London | not recorded | Unknown Date |
Henry VI (first reign), 1422–1461
13 marks recorded · Bristol, Calais, Durham, London, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Fleury | London | Unknown date | Unknown date | |
| Cross Patonce | London | 1427 - 1434 | ||
| Cross Pattee | London | 1470 - 1471 | ||
| Cross Pierced | London | 1422 - 1427 | ||
| Cross Plain | Bristol, Calais, London | 1422 - 1460 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pommee | Calais, London | 1422 - 1434 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Restoration | Bristol, London | 1470 - 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Short Fitchee | Bristol, London | 1470 - 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Voided | Calais | 1434 - 1435 | ||
| Lis | Calais, London, York | 1460, 1470 - 1471, Some dates unknown | Some date information unknown | |
| Rose | Bristol | 1470 - 1471 | ||
| Sun | York | 1470 - 1471 | ||
| Trefoil | Bristol, Calais, Durham, London | 1470 - 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section |
Edward IV (first reign), 1461–1470
21 marks recorded · Bristol, Canterbury, Coventry, Durham, London, Norwich, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annulet | Bristol, Durham, London, York | (Annulet 1471 - 1472) (Annulet Small 1472 - 1473) | A smaller annulet was also used, at Durham and York. Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cinquefoil Heraldic | Canterbury, London | 1480 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross and 4 Pellets | Bristol, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Fleury | London | 1461 - 1464 | ||
| Cross in Circle | Bristol, London, York | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Long Fitchee | Canterbury, London, York | 1467 - 1469, 1480 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pattee | Bristol, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pierced | Bristol, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pierced and Pellet | Bristol, London | 1477 - 1480 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pierced With Central Pellet | Bristol, London | 1477 - 1480 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Plain | Durham, London, York | 1461 - 1464 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Short Fitchee | Bristol, Durham, London, York | 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Crown | Bristol, Canterbury, London, York | 1467 - 1468 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Lis | London, York | 1461 - 1464, 1467 - 1470, 1471 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Pall | Canterbury | 1464 - 1467 | ||
| Pansy | Durham | 1471 - 1473 | ||
| Pellet in Annulet | Bristol, Durham, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Rose | Bristol, Canterbury, Durham, London, Norwich, York | 1464 - 1465, 1468 - 1469, 1471 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Sun | Bristol, Canterbury, Coventry, London, Norwich, York | 1465 - 1470, 1472 - 1473 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Sun Halved and Rose | Canterbury, London | 1483 (Uncertain) | Unknown date (Edward IV or Edward V) | |
| Trefoil | Durham, London, York | 1471 - 1472 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section |
Henry VI (restored), 1470–1471
13 marks recorded · Bristol, Calais, Durham, London, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross Fleury | London | Unknown date | Unknown date | |
| Cross Patonce | London | 1427 - 1434 | ||
| Cross Pattee | London | 1470 - 1471 | ||
| Cross Pierced | London | 1422 - 1427 | ||
| Cross Plain | Bristol, Calais, London | 1422 - 1460 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pommee | Calais, London | 1422 - 1434 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Restoration | Bristol, London | 1470 - 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Short Fitchee | Bristol, London | 1470 - 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Voided | Calais | 1434 - 1435 | ||
| Lis | Calais, London, York | 1460, 1470 - 1471, Some dates unknown | Some date information unknown | |
| Rose | Bristol | 1470 - 1471 | ||
| Sun | York | 1470 - 1471 | ||
| Trefoil | Bristol, Calais, Durham, London | 1470 - 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section |
Edward IV (second reign), 1471–1483
21 marks recorded · Bristol, Canterbury, Coventry, Durham, London, Norwich, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annulet | Bristol, Durham, London, York | (Annulet 1471 - 1472) (Annulet Small 1472 - 1473) | A smaller annulet was also used, at Durham and York. Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cinquefoil Heraldic | Canterbury, London | 1480 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross and 4 Pellets | Bristol, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Fleury | London | 1461 - 1464 | ||
| Cross in Circle | Bristol, London, York | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Long Fitchee | Canterbury, London, York | 1467 - 1469, 1480 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pattee | Bristol, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pierced | Bristol, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pierced and Pellet | Bristol, London | 1477 - 1480 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Pierced With Central Pellet | Bristol, London | 1477 - 1480 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Plain | Durham, London, York | 1461 - 1464 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cross Short Fitchee | Bristol, Durham, London, York | 1471 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Crown | Bristol, Canterbury, London, York | 1467 - 1468 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Lis | London, York | 1461 - 1464, 1467 - 1470, 1471 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Pall | Canterbury | 1464 - 1467 | ||
| Pansy | Durham | 1471 - 1473 | ||
| Pellet in Annulet | Bristol, Durham, London | 1473 - 1477 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Rose | Bristol, Canterbury, Durham, London, Norwich, York | 1464 - 1465, 1468 - 1469, 1471 - 1483 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Sun | Bristol, Canterbury, Coventry, London, Norwich, York | 1465 - 1470, 1472 - 1473 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Sun Halved and Rose | Canterbury, London | 1483 (Uncertain) | Unknown date (Edward IV or Edward V) | |
| Trefoil | Durham, London, York | 1471 - 1472 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section |
Edward V, 1483–1483
2 marks recorded · London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boar's Head | London | 1483 | ||
| Sun Halved and Rose | London | 1483 (Uncertain) | Varieties exist. Unknown date (Edward IV or Edward V) |
Richard III, 1483–1485
4 marks recorded · Durham, London, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boar's Head | London | 1483 - 1485 | A second, similar boar’s head mark also exists. | |
| Lis | Durham | 1483 - 1485 | ||
| Rose | York | 1483 - 1485 | ||
| Sun Halved and Rose | London, York | 1483 - 1485 | Varieties exist. Mint could be any of those listed under this section |
Henry VII, 1485–1509
22 marks recorded · Canterbury, Durham, London, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | London | 1499 - 1502 | ||
| Cinquefoil | London | 1489 - 1493 | ||
| Cross Crosslet | London | 1504 - 1505 | ||
| Cross Long Fitchee | London | 1487, 1492 | ||
| Cross Plain | Durham | 1487 - 1488 | ||
| Crozier | Durham | 1489 - 1493 | ||
| Dragon | London | 1493 - 1495 | ||
| Escallop | London | 1493 - 1495 | ||
| Greyhound's Head | London | 1502 - 1504 | ||
| Leopard's Head Crowned | London | 1498 | ||
| Lis | Canterbury, London, York | 1487, 1493 - 1498, 1502 - 1504 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Lis Issuant from Rose | London | 1498 | ||
| Lis Rose Dimidiated | London | 1485 - 1487 | ||
| Lis Upon Half Rose | London | 1485 - 1487 | ||
| Lis Upon Sun and Rose | London, York | 1485 - 1487 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Martlet | Canterbury, York | 1502 - 1509 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| None | Canterbury, Durham, London | 1488 - 1489 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Pansy | Canterbury, London | 1495 - 1498 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Phenon | London | 1505 - 1509 | ||
| Rose | Canterbury, London, York | 1485 - 1487, 1504 - 1509 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Sun Halved and Rose | London | 1485 - 1487 | ||
| Tun | Canterbury | 1493 - 1498 |
Henry VIII, 1509–1547
36 marks recorded · Bristol, Canterbury, Durham, London, Southwark, Tournai, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorn | York | 1526 - 1530 | ||
| Arrow | London | 1526 - 1544 | ||
| Bow | Durham | 1548 - 1549 | ||
| Castle | London | 1509 - 1526 | ||
| Castle With H | London | 1509 - 1526 | ||
| Catherine Wheel | Canterbury | 1533 - 1544 | ||
| Crescent | Durham | 1526 - 1529 | ||
| Cross Long Fitchee | Canterbury | 1509 - 1526 | ||
| Cross Patonce | Canterbury | 1526 - 1536 | ||
| Cross Voided | York | 1514 - 1530 | ||
| E | Southwark | 1544 - 1547 | ||
| E Roman | Southwark, London | 1544 - 1549 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Escallop | York | 1514 - 1526 | ||
| Flower (8 Petals) | Durham | 1526 - 1529 | ||
| Grapple | London | 1549 | ||
| K | London | 1544 - 1549 | ||
| Key | York | 1530 - 1544 | ||
| Lis | Canterbury, Durham, Southwark, London | 1509 - 1549 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Martlet | Canterbury, London, York | 1509 - 1526, 1550 - 1551 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Pansy | York | 1514 - 1526 | ||
| Pellet in Annulet | London | 1544 - 1547 | ||
| Pheon | London | 1509 - 1544 | ||
| Pomegranate | Canterbury | 1509 - 1526 | ||
| Portcullis Crowned | London | 1509 - 1526 | ||
| Rose | Canterbury, London | 1509 - 1544 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| S | Southwark | 1544 - 1547 | ||
| Spur Rowel | Durham | 1523 - 1526 | ||
| Star | Durham, York | 1514 - 1544 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Star Radiant | Durham, York | 1509 - 1523, 1529 - 1544 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Sunburst | London | 1526 - 1544 | ||
| T | Canterbury | 1549 - 1550 | ||
| T Crowned | Tournai | 1513 - 1518 | ||
| TC | Bristol | 1549 | ||
| Trefoil | Durham | 1526 - 1529 | ||
| Unknown Mark | Canterbury | 1526 - 1536 | ||
| WS | Bristol | 1544 - 1549 |
Edward VI, 1547–1553
21 marks recorded · Bristol, Canterbury, Durham, London, Southwark, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | London | 1549 - 1550 | ||
| Arrow | London | 1549 | ||
| Bow | Durham | 1548 - 1549 | ||
| E Roman | Southwark | 1549 | ||
| Escallop | London | 1551 - 1553 | ||
| Grapple | London | 1549 | ||
| Leopard's Head Crowned | London | 1550 | Extremely rare | |
| Lion | London | 1550 - 1551 | ||
| Lis | Southwark, London | 1550 - 1551 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Martlet | London | 1550 | ||
| Mullet Pierced | York | 1552 - 1553 | ||
| Ostrich's Head | London | 1551 | ||
| Pheon | London | 1549 | ||
| Rose | Canterbury, London | 1549 - 1551 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Swan | London | 1549 - 1550 | ||
| t | Canterbury | 1549 | ||
| T | Canterbury | 1549 | ||
| TC | Bristol | 1549 | ||
| Tun | London | 1551 - 1553 | ||
| y | Southwark | 1551 | ||
| Y Roman | London, Southwark | 1549 - 1551 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section |
Mary, 1553–1554
2 marks recorded · London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Rose | London | 1553 - 1554 | ||
| Pomegranate | London | 1553 - 1554 |
Philip and Mary, 1554–1558
2 marks recorded · London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half Rose and Castle | London | 1554 - 1558 | ||
| Lis | London | 1554 - 1558 |
Elizabeth I, 1558–1603
28 marks recorded · London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | London | 1600 | ||
| 1 | London | 1601 - 1602 | ||
| 2 | London | 1602 | ||
| A | London | 1582 - 1584 | ||
| Acorn | London | 1573 - 1574 | ||
| Anchor | London | 1598 - 1600 | ||
| Bell | London | 1582 - 1583 | ||
| Castle | London | 1569 - 1571 | ||
| Coronet | London | 1567 - 1570 | ||
| Crescent | London | 1587 - 1589 | ||
| Cross Crosslet | London | 1560 - 1561 | ||
| Cross Greek | London | 1578 - 1579 | ||
| Cross Latin | London | 1580 - 1581 | ||
| Eglantine | London | 1573 - 1577 | ||
| Ermine | London | 1572 - 1573 | ||
| Escallop | London | 1584 - 1586 | ||
| Hand | London | 1590 - 1592 | ||
| Key | London | 1595 - 1598 | ||
| Lion | London | 1566 - 1567 | ||
| Lis | London | 1558 - 1560, 1567 - 1570 | ||
| Martlet | London | 1560 - 1561 | ||
| Pheon | London | 1561 - 1565 | ||
| Portcullis | London | 1566 | ||
| Rose | London | 1565 | ||
| Star | London | 1560 - 1566 | ||
| Sword | London | 1582 | ||
| Tun | London | 1591 - 1595 | ||
| Woolpack | London | 1594 - 1596 |
James I, 1603–1625
38 marks recorded · Edinburgh, London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Annulet | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Ball | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Bell | London | 1610 - 1611; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Book on Lectern | London | 1616 - 1617 | ||
| Cinquefoil | London | 1613 - 1615; 1613 - 1614 | Copper Farthing | |
| Coronet | London | 1607 - 1609; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Crescent | London | 1617 - 1618; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Cross Pattee | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Cross Plain | London | 1618 - 1619 | ||
| Cross Saltire | London | 1619; 1613 - 1614 | Copper Farthing | |
| Dagger | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Eagle's Head | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Ermine | London | 1613 - 1614 | Copper Farthing | |
| Escallop | London | 1606 - 1607 | ||
| Flower | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Grapes | London | 1607; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Key | London | 1609 - 1610 | ||
| Lion Passant | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Lion Rampant | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Lis | London | 1604 - 1605, 1623 - 1624; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Long Cross Fitchee | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Martlet | London | 1613 - 1614 | Copper Farthing | |
| Mascle | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Millrind | London | 1613 - 1614 | Copper Farthing | |
| Mullet | London | 1611 - 1612; 1613 - 1614 | Copper Farthing | |
| Pellet | London | 1613 - 1614 | Copper Farthing | |
| Quatrefoil | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Rose | London | 1605 - 1606, 1620 - 1621; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Spur Rowl | London | 1619 - 1620 | ||
| Star | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Stirrup | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Thistle | Edinburgh, London | 1603 - 1604, 1621 - 1623; 1613 - 1625 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section; Copper Farthing | |
| Tower | London | 1612 - 1613 | ||
| Trefoil | London | 1613; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Triangle | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Tun | London | 1615 - 1616; 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing | |
| Woolpack | London | 1613 - 1625 | Copper Farthing |
Charles I, 1625–1649
78 marks recorded · Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth-Furnace, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Bridgnorth, Bristol, Chester, Exeter, Hereford, London, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Truro, Worcester, York
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Ashby-de-la-Zouch, London | 1645; 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Acorn | Bristol | 1643 | ||
| Anchor | Bristol, London | 1628 - 1629, 1638 - 1639 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Anchor and B | Bristol | 1638 - 1639 | Sometimes with a mullet in place of the B. | |
| Annulet | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| B | Bridgnorth, Bristol | 1646 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Bell | London | 1634 - 1635; 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Billet | Oxford | 1644 | ||
| Bird | Shrewsbury, Worcester | 1643 - 1644 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Blackamoor's Head | London | 1626 - 1627 | ||
| Boar's Head | Shrewsbury, Worcester | 1643 - 1644 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Book | Aberystwyth, London | 1638 - 1642; 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Br | Bristol | 1643 - 1645 | ||
| Bugle | Truro | 1642 - 1643 | ||
| Castle | Exeter, Shrewsbury, London, Worcester | 1627 - 1628, 1643 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Cinquefoil | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Crescent | London | 1625 - 1644 | Copper Farthing | |
| Cross Calvary | London | 1625 - 1626; 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Cross Floriated | Oxford | 1643 - 1646 | ||
| Cross Patonce | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Cross Pattee | Bristol, Oxford, London | 1643, 1644; 1625 - 1644 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section; Copper Farthing | |
| Cross Pattee Fitchee | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Cross Saltire | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Cross With Pellets | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Crown | Aberystwyth-Furnace, London | 1635 - 1636, 1648 - 1649 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Dagger | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Ermine | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Estoile | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Estoile Pierced | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Eye | London | 1645; 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Fish Hook | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Fleece | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Flower and B | Bristol | 1631 - 1632 | ||
| Fusil | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Fusil Two | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Gauntlet | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Gerb | Chester | 1644 - 1645 | ||
| Grapes | Shrewsbury, Worcester | 1643 - 1644 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Halberd | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Harp | London | 1632 - 1633; 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Heart | London | 1629 - 1630; 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Helmet | Shrewsbury, Worcester | 1643 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Horse Shoe | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Leaf | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Leopard's Head | Worcester | 1643 - 1644 | ||
| Lion | York | 1642 - 1644 | ||
| Lion Passant | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Lion Rampant | Shrewsbury, Worcester, London | 1643 - 1644; 1625 - 1642 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section; Copper Farthing | |
| Lions Two | Worcester | 1643 - 1644 | ||
| Lis | Hereford, Oxford, Shrewsbury, London, Worcester | 1625, 1642 - 1646; 1625 - 1644 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section; Copper Farthing | |
| Lis Three | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Lozenge | Oxford | 1644 | ||
| Martlet | London | 1625 - 1644 | Copper Farthing | |
| Mullet | Oxford, London | 1644; 1636 - 1644 | Copper Farthing | |
| Nautilus | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| P in Brackets | London | 1643 - 1644 | ||
| Pear | Worcester | 1644 - 1645 | ||
| Pellet | Oxford, Shrewsbury | 1642 - 1646 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Pellet in Annulet | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Pellets | Bristol, Oxford, Shrewsbury | 1642 - 1646, | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Plume | Aberystwyth, Bridgnorth, Bristol, Oxford, Shrewsbury, London | 1630 - 1631, 1642 - 1646 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Portcullis | London | 1633 - 1634 | ||
| Quatrefoil | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| R in Brackets | London | 1644 - 1645 | ||
| Rose | Exeter, London, Truro | 1631 - 1632, 1642 - 1645; 1625 - 1642 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section; Copper Farthing | |
| Rosette | Oxford, Shrewsbury, Worcester | 1643 - 1645 | Mint could be any of those listed under this section | |
| Sceptre | London | 1646 - 1648 | ||
| Shield | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Spear Head | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Star | London | 1641 - 1641 | ||
| Sun | London | 1645 - 1646 | ||
| Tower | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Trefoil | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Triangle | London | 1639 - 1640 | ||
| Triangle in Circle | London | 1641 - 1643 | ||
| Tun | London | 1636 - 1638 | ||
| Woolpack | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing | |
| Woolpack Over Annulet | London | 1625 - 1642 | Copper Farthing |
Commonwealth, 1649–1660
2 marks recorded · London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | London | 1658 - 1660 | ||
| Sun | London | 1649 - 1657 |
Charles II (hammered), 1660–1662
1 mark recorded · London
| Mark | Points to | In use | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crown | London | 1660 - 1662 |
The mark, legend and mint-signature tables behind this page are compiled from the reference tables published by Paul A Shields at psdetecting.com, cross-checked against Spink and North. The mint marks on this page are drawn by us rather than copied — the charges themselves are medieval and belong to nobody. Grades are advisory: dealers disagree by several points, and no number here should be read as a valuation.