For five hundred years the silver penny was Englands sole denomination. During that time coins were halved or quartered in order to provide small change. Another activity associated with hammered coinage was that of clipping - whereby small amounts of silver were removed from the edges of coins. Once a reasonable quantity had been collected the precious metal would then be sold. Clipping was illegal, and carried a penalty of torture or death for those found guilty |
Cut halfpenny (much enlarged) Henry II 1154 -1189 |
