Ian Stewart, Lord Stewartby, English Coins 1180 – 1551. Spink, London 2009. 571 pages with some b&w illustrations and 39 b&w plates. Clothbound. Thread stitching. 18 x 27 cm. ISBN 978-1-902040-89-9 (Paperback; £ 45) 978-1-902040-91-2 (Clothbound; £ 65).
November 19, 2009 – The new work of reference on English numismatics of the High and the Late Middle Ages was written by a renowned expert in the field who wrote his first numismatic book at the tender age of 19. “English Coins” can be regarded as the sum of a life-long, meticulous occupation with the subject. Each of the nine chapters of the books deals with one era of the history of money in chronological order beginning with Short Cross Coinage and concluding with Edward IV. All chapters are arranged similarly: first the historical and economic historical background is illuminated. A classification of all struck coins and their dating follows as well as a table of the mints’ mintage plus a chronology of all events important for the coining follows. An overview of all struck coins with their various types concludes the chapter.
The illustrations of this text heavy book are put together in the plate section containing 39 plates – this way it is laborious to connect text and illustration. Therefore, “English Coins” is not so much a book on easy coin identification but a compendium of all knowledge about English numismatics.