Shire Coinage? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Samwise · 03-31-2003, 10:17 PM

This question isn't going to come out right, but I'm going to try to ask it anyway...

Below are the links to pictures of two coins I recently won (they're not in my possession yet) on Ebay. One is a "Shire Coin" and the other is a "Haypenny". Could someone tell me about their significance/usage/etc? For example, something I'm not sure about is the significance of the change of trees used on one of the coins, as it reads in one of the descriptions. Does anyone know about that?
~Samwise

*Edit* ARRGH! The links won't work! Well, If I can find pictures of them again, I'll put them up.... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

[ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Samwise ]

MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie · 04-01-2003, 01:50 AM

Well, I have never heard of a Shire coin, but I have heard of a haypenny. I'm not sure, but I think that a haypenny is half a penny, I think in worth, not size. I would really like to see the pictures though, maybe you could post the URL adress if the link isn't working.

Selmo · 04-01-2003, 04:38 AM

In the UK, before inflation made it worthless, we had a coin worth half a penny. It was usually written as "ha'penny" and pronounced something like "haypenny".

The coins Samwise refers to have nothing to do with Tolkien. In The Hobbit, he mentions gold coins and in Lord of The Rings he mentions silver pennies, but he never gave any descriptions.

Samwise · 04-01-2003, 01:30 PM

Hm. Let's see if this works:

This is what is listed as the "Shire Coin":
This auction is for an Official Authentic Antique 1403 Shire Penny - FIRST PRINTING. The inscription is the same as on the 1402 series, with the revision of the date and the replacement of the Oak tree with a Pine tree for 1403. The coin is NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to find now. I suggest you get yours before it's too late.. VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES LEFT!
This antique collectible item makes a fine addition to your Lord of the Rings collection. It's perfect for those of you who wish to display a few of these along with a cool Lord of the Rings Map under glass. The coin will also add some spice to anyone who wish to start or has been collecting medieval or ancient coins.
The Shire penny was struck once in copper using an antique 50 tonne screw press on hand-engraved steel dies designs. These dies were professionally prepared by Oswald Oaklif of Archet after lengthy research. The coin features inscriptions in the Tengwar lettering and Kuduk language that professor Tolkien invented to go along with his fantasy world. On the tree side of the penny, it says: "Er Kelebris, Suza Bar Kuduk" meaning "One Penny, Shire, abode of the Hobbits". The date side has the mint-mark "Belegroth" (which Tolkien "translated" into archaic English as "Mikhel Delving"), the lozenge of four squares is a symbol of the four farthings of the Shire (it's really just space filler), and "suza yen" = "shire year", 1403, and then the engraver's privy mark of the three left opening curls: one is short 'o' for Oswald, and the double curl is long 'o' for Oaklif. In the geographical X pattern in the middle, the top tengwa is 'F' for "Formen" = north, the right hand tengwa is an 'R' variant for "Romen" = east, the bottom tengwa is an 'H' variant for "Hyarmen" = south, and the left tengwa is 'N' for "Numen" = west. The coin weighs about 2.5 grams and is 0.75 inches in diameter.

Samwise · 04-01-2003, 01:37 PM

...and this is the "Hay Penny":

This auction is for an Official Authentic Antique 1402 HayPenny Coin. This collectible item makes a fine addition to any Lord of the Rings collection. It also makes a great addition to any coin ethusiast's collection. I only have a VERY LIMITED number of these coins available and I suggest you snatch yours before it's too late!
The half-penny (or "haypenny" in Hobbit parlance) is the last denomination of the small coins to be added. It is similar in design to the 1402 shire penny, bearing the idealized depiction of the four farthings on reverse, and similar inscriptions, but is slightly smaller and lighter (2.0 grams instead of 3.1 grams) and the metal is a nickle/aluminum bronze alloy with a rather more yellow color, rather than the more coppery look of the penny. It is a charming new coin and should complete the set of 1402 Shire pieces.

Birdland · 04-02-2003, 01:26 AM

Samwise - the "history" of your coins can be found here: Shire coinage. Shirepost.com used to sell these coins, but apparently they are having problems with licensing agreements with the Tolkien estate, and have had to suspend the sales of these "coins".

I have no idea what they were originally selling the coins for.

Samwise · 04-02-2003, 01:47 AM

Thank you.

03-31-2003, 10:17 PM	#1
Samwise Faithful Spirit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: #3 Bagshot Row, Petaluma, Ca Posts: 2,299	Shire Coinage? This question isn't going to come out right, but I'm going to try to ask it anyway... Below are the links to pictures of two coins I recently won (they're not in my possession yet) on Ebay. One is a "Shire Coin" and the other is a "Haypenny". Could someone tell me about their significance/usage/etc? For example, something I'm not sure about is the significance of the change of trees used on one of the coins, as it reads in one of the descriptions. Does anyone know about that? ~Samwise Edit ARRGH! The links won't work! Well, If I can find pictures of them again, I'll put them up.... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] [ March 31, 2003: Message edited by: Samwise ] __________________ Giving thanks unto the Father...In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.~Colossians1:12a,14 * * * * * * * I am Samwise son of Hamfast, if by hoe or trowel I can get these weeds out of your garden, I will.You have my shears!;)

04-01-2003, 01:50 AM	#2
MLD-Grounds-Keeper-Willie Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: San Francisco Posts: 573	Well, I have never heard of a Shire coin, but I have heard of a haypenny. I'm not sure, but I think that a haypenny is half a penny, I think in worth, not size. I would really like to see the pictures though, maybe you could post the URL adress if the link isn't working. __________________ Do Not Touch -Willie

04-01-2003, 01:30 PM	#4
Samwise Faithful Spirit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: #3 Bagshot Row, Petaluma, Ca Posts: 2,299	Hm. Let's see if this works: This is what is listed as the "Shire Coin": This auction is for an Official Authentic Antique 1403 Shire Penny - FIRST PRINTING. The inscription is the same as on the 1402 series, with the revision of the date and the replacement of the Oak tree with a Pine tree for 1403. The coin is NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to find now. I suggest you get yours before it's too late.. VERY LIMITED QUANTITIES LEFT! This antique collectible item makes a fine addition to your Lord of the Rings collection. It's perfect for those of you who wish to display a few of these along with a cool Lord of the Rings Map under glass. The coin will also add some spice to anyone who wish to start or has been collecting medieval or ancient coins. The Shire penny was struck once in copper using an antique 50 tonne screw press on hand-engraved steel dies designs. These dies were professionally prepared by Oswald Oaklif of Archet after lengthy research. The coin features inscriptions in the Tengwar lettering and Kuduk language that professor Tolkien invented to go along with his fantasy world. On the tree side of the penny, it says: "Er Kelebris, Suza Bar Kuduk" meaning "One Penny, Shire, abode of the Hobbits". The date side has the mint-mark "Belegroth" (which Tolkien "translated" into archaic English as "Mikhel Delving"), the lozenge of four squares is a symbol of the four farthings of the Shire (it's really just space filler), and "suza yen" = "shire year", 1403, and then the engraver's privy mark of the three left opening curls: one is short 'o' for Oswald, and the double curl is long 'o' for Oaklif. In the geographical X pattern in the middle, the top tengwa is 'F' for "Formen" = north, the right hand tengwa is an 'R' variant for "Romen" = east, the bottom tengwa is an 'H' variant for "Hyarmen" = south, and the left tengwa is 'N' for "Numen" = west. The coin weighs about 2.5 grams and is 0.75 inches in diameter. __________________ Giving thanks unto the Father...In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.~Colossians1:12a,14 * * * * * * * I am Samwise son of Hamfast, if by hoe or trowel I can get these weeds out of your garden, I will.You have my shears!;)

04-01-2003, 01:37 PM	#5
Samwise Faithful Spirit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: #3 Bagshot Row, Petaluma, Ca Posts: 2,299	...and this is the "Hay Penny": This auction is for an Official Authentic Antique 1402 HayPenny Coin. This collectible item makes a fine addition to any Lord of the Rings collection. It also makes a great addition to any coin ethusiast's collection. I only have a VERY LIMITED number of these coins available and I suggest you snatch yours before it's too late! The half-penny (or "haypenny" in Hobbit parlance) is the last denomination of the small coins to be added. It is similar in design to the 1402 shire penny, bearing the idealized depiction of the four farthings on reverse, and similar inscriptions, but is slightly smaller and lighter (2.0 grams instead of 3.1 grams) and the metal is a nickle/aluminum bronze alloy with a rather more yellow color, rather than the more coppery look of the penny. It is a charming new coin and should complete the set of 1402 Shire pieces. __________________ Giving thanks unto the Father...In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.~Colossians1:12a,14 * * * * * * * I am Samwise son of Hamfast, if by hoe or trowel I can get these weeds out of your garden, I will.You have my shears!;)

04-02-2003, 01:47 AM	#7
Samwise Faithful Spirit Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: #3 Bagshot Row, Petaluma, Ca Posts: 2,299	Thank you. __________________ Giving thanks unto the Father...In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.~Colossians1:12a,14 * * * * * * * I am Samwise son of Hamfast, if by hoe or trowel I can get these weeds out of your garden, I will.You have my shears!;)

04-01-2003, 04:38 AM	#3
Selmo Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: The Shire (Staffordshire), United Kingdom Posts: 273	In the UK, before inflation made it worthless, we had a coin worth half a penny. It was usually written as "ha'penny" and pronounced something like "haypenny". The coins Samwise refers to have nothing to do with Tolkien. In The Hobbit, he mentions gold coins and in Lord of The Rings he mentions silver pennies, but he never gave any descriptions.

04-02-2003, 01:26 AM	#6
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Samwise - the "history" of your coins can be found here: Shire coinage. Shirepost.com used to sell these coins, but apparently they are having problems with licensing agreements with the Tolkien estate, and have had to suspend the sales of these "coins". I have no idea what they were originally selling the coins for.