Designed by Nigel G Wilcox
The Paragon Of Metal Detecting
Powered By Sispro1
British Sterling Currency - Numismatics,
Double Leopard
For Reference ONLY
Everything For The Detectorist
Double Leopard
Edward III 1327-1377 AD
Royal Monarchy
Copyright © All Rights Reserved by Nigel G Wilcox · · E-Mail: ngwilcox100@gmail.com
Pages
Edward III
Value Estimated around £400,000-£500,000 (2018)
The Edward III double florin, known as a double leopard and with a face value of six shillings, was circulated from December 1343 until July 1344. It is only the third known surviving coin, with two others found in the River Tyne in 1857. The coin - the first large gold one in England after centuries of silver ones - was found in February by a metal-detecting enthusiast in the south of England.
With only three known, the Edward III-Plantagenet king (1327 - 1377)-gold Double Leopard, third coinage (1344 - 1351), is perhaps the most important English coin in The Tyrant Collection.
It is a large gold coin which was worth six shillings at issue. Twelve silver pennies equaled a shilling.Most people at the time worked for pennies a week, at best. No gold coins had been minted in England since the seventh century, except for a pattern penny made for Henry III at the end of the 13th century. The renewed gold coinage of Edward III occurred only briefly from January to August in 1344. It suddenly stopped because of a fiscal crisis involving fluctuating values of silver versus gold, which caused hoarding and a consequent shortage of money in use, as well as melting of gold.
Edward III was a widely admired knight who was also feared by his enemies as a bold military commander. Much of his reign took place during the Hundred Years War with France, and by 1340 Edward had declared himself also King of France. This was outrageous to the French, and the war continued until it was ended in 1360 by treaty.
Meantime, Edward ruled over a rich country at a time when chivalry was at its height. He held jousting and other tournaments, and he founded the Order of the Garter in the same year this coin was minted, 1344. This chivalric order was officially instituted in 1348, its membership limited to the king and just 24 knights. Its inspiration was the mythical Round Table of King Arthur, at which 300 knights sat with their king, reigning over and protecting England.
The Edward III Double Leopard is one of the earliest gold coins made in England, and today only three examples are known.
![](images/3jdpi10igb.jpg)
![](images/32cyo3oibm.jpg)
Main Coin Menu
VIEW ALL MENUS
Member NCMD
6. S. Menu