Orford Pennies. Described by C. L. Stainer, MA. (The Clarendon
Press, for the Oxford Historical Society.)—The coins described and figured in these pages and the illustrative plates range over a period of nearly three centuries and a half (A.D. 925—AD. 1272). Nine belong to Athelstan's reign, and four to Henry III. These are the terminus a quo and the terminus ad quern. Mr. Stainer gives us an interesting account of them, of the moneyers who made them, 'and of the relations between the provincial mints and the central authority. The weights of the coins vary considerably, ranging from 13 grains to 28. The heaviest average is among the pennies of Ethelred IL (These, however, were found in a hoard, and are in unusually fine condition.) Some curious stories are told of the finding of these treasures. In 1833, for instance, some young boys playing at Beaworth (near Alresford) found a hoard. How many it con- tained is uncertain, for some were thrown about as things of no value, but the owner of the land received no less than six thousand by the evening of the following day. They were au, of William I., and one hundred and forty-seven were Oxford pennies. Taking 20 grains as the average weight, they must have been worth at the time as bullion about .t60 (silver being then nearly worth its currency value).
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