Henry III Gold Penny - The History

For those of you who know me, you will know I have a great interest in the Henry III, Voided Long Cross Coinage. All the coins were silver pennies EXCEPT 'In 1257, a manuscript chronicle, in the archives of the City of London, states that the king made a penny of the finest gold, which weighed two sterlings, and willed that it should be current for twenty pence. Three specimens of it have yet reached us; and two of the three are in the British Museum. They are from different dies. This is engraved in Snellings 'View of the Gold Coin' in the last edition of 'Folkes's Tables' and in Pinkerton's 'Essay on Medals'. SOURCE: THE PENNY ECYCLOPAEDIA OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE 1837 Over the coming months I hope to write an illustrated guide to the coinage. I'll keep you informed.