Dead Monarchs

[Bixley]

The Royal Mint is issuing several coins bearing Elizabeth's portrait with a date of 2023. Has the Royal Mint throughout its history ever issued new coins bearing a dead monarch's image in the year following their death? Are there precedents from any other mint?

[Petra]

None of the others set quite the precedents that Queen Elizabeth did, also, don’t think there has been quite the market for coin collectors before! 🤔 (easy money🫢)

[SidS]

3 hours ago, Bixley said:

The Royal Mint is issuing several coins bearing Elizabeth's portrait with a date of 2023. Has the Royal Mint throughout its history ever issued new coins bearing a dead monarch's image in the year following their death? Are there precedents from any other mint?

Well you asked the question.

In 1154 Stephen died, his last design of coinage was issued around 1152 and continued in production until the 1158 recoinage under Henry II.

In 1189 Henry II died, his coins continued to be struck (same portrait, same design, still with HENRICVS REX as the legend) through the reigns of Richard I, John and into Henry III's reign. The design was finally replaced in the 1230s-40s.

The next occurence happened when Henry III died in 1272 - his coins continued to be struck until 1278/9 during Edward I's reign.

When Henry VII died in 1509, his portrait remained on the coinage being produced for the first few years of Henry VIII's reign.

The next instance was in 1547 when Henry VIII died and his coinage continued into the reign of Edward VI until around 1549.

Then came William III who died in 1701 (on the old style calendar - which was in use at the time) but some Maundy coinage was struck bearing his portrait and the date 1702. Ironically, due to adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, some reign dates were amended to the new calendar and William made it into 1702 on that calendar.

They are the only ones I can think of, at least since the Norman conquest.

Edited October 16, 2022 by SidS

[LawrenceChard]

On 16/10/2022 at 15:19, Bixley said:

The Royal Mint is issuing several coins bearing Elizabeth's portrait with a date of 2023. Has the Royal Mint throughout its history ever issued new coins bearing a dead monarch's image in the year following their death? Are there precedents from any other mint?

 

On 16/10/2022 at 18:19, SidS said:

Well you asked the question.

In 1154 Stephen died, his last design of coinage was issued around 1152 and continued in production until the 1158 recoinage under Henry II.

In 1189 Henry II died, his coins continued to be struck (same portrait, same design, still with HENRICVS REX as the legend) through the reigns of Richard I, John and into Henry III's reign. The design was finally replaced in the 1230s-40s.

The next occurence happened when Henry III died in 1272 - his coins continued to be struck until 1278/9 during Edward I's reign.

When Henry VII died in 1509, his portrait remained on the coinage being produced for the first few years of Henry VIII's reign.

The next instance was in 1547 when Henry VIII died and his coinage continued into the reign of Edward VI until around 1549.

Then came William III who died in 1701 (on the old style calendar - which was in use at the time) but some Maundy coinage was struck bearing his portrait and the date 1702. Ironically, due to adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752, some reign dates were amended to the new calendar and William made it into 1702 on that calendar.

They are the only ones I can think of, at least since the Norman conquest.

Simple answer is yes, but @SidS has given a far more detailed answer.

Worth buying a coin book such as Spink Standard Catalogue, you don't even need the latest edition.

The ancient Romans also issued posthumous coins.

😎