Coins and the Sea - Maritime Imagery
Britain is a maritime nation that has been shaped by the sea and the same is true about our coinage. Explore highlights from the first episode of the Royal Mint Museum's podcast.
Edward IV Angel by The Royal MintThe Royal Mint Museum
Maritime imagery
Our connection with the sea has had a far-reaching impact on our money. Join us to take a look at some examples from our collection and explore the story of British naval history through coins of the past.
Edward III Noble
It was not until 1344, during the reign of Edward III, that a regular coinage of gold was established. Gold nobles, like the one shown here, were struck in large numbers from the mid-fourteenth century.
The obverse shows the figure of the king, carrying a large sword and shield, whilst standing in a boat.
Edward IV Angel
As a result of the revaluation of the noble during the reign of Edward IV (1461-83), a new, smaller, gold coin called the angel was introduced at the popular value of 6s 8d, or a third- of-a-pound.
The new coin featured a striking image of St Michael slaying the devil on one side and an image of a ship on the other. It became a regular feature of the English coinage from the mid-fifteenth century.
Charles I Angel by The Royal MintThe Royal Mint Museum
Charles I Angel
By the reign of Charles I the angel had ceased to play a meaningful part in normal circulation, but it did perform a role in the ritual of touching for the king’s evil, a means to cure scrofula.
Coins used for this purpose were pierced, threaded with a white ribbon and hung around the neck of recipients.
Edward IV Ryal
The ryal, also introduced in the 1460s during the reign of Edward IV (1461-83), had an initial value of 10 shillings.
Its design clearly drew inspiration from the noble, with the image of the monarch standing in a boat still being a prominent part of the obverse.
Victoria Proof Penny
Much later the image of Britannia, complete with lighthouse and sailing ship, became a feature of the Victorian penny for decades.
Edward VIII Penny Electrotype by The Royal MintThe Royal Mint Museum
Edward VIII Penny Electrotype
The placement of a modern battleship next to the figure of Britannia on this proposed design for the new coinage of Edward VIII (1936) was considered too provocative for a Europe that was becoming increasingly tense owing to the militarisation of Nazi Germany.
It was removed before the abdication of Edward VIII and no place was found for it on the coinage of George VI (1936-52).
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