FLEURY CROSS ON EUROPEAN COINAGE A Fleury Cross is a Cross with the three arms ending in representations of flower petals (typically a lily). Fleury in different languages is aka Fleuree, Fleurettee, Fleuronny, Fleuronnee, Flory or Flowery. Here's a photo courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cross-Flory-Heraldry.svg Our first Fleury Cross on coin to view is truly old (997-1003 AD). It's a Viking Aethelred II Long Cross Penny made of Silver, weighing 1.48 grams and measuring 20.34 mm. It's a Long Cross Type. Obverse: profile bust with +EDELRD REX ANGLO legend. Reverse: long voided cross dividing +SPERTINC M-O NORD legend for the moneyer Swertinc at Norwich mint. Take a look courtesy of Timeline Originals: http://time-lines.co.uk/aethelred-ii-norwich-swertinc-long-cross-penny-018670-27971-0.html The Fleury Cross's useage on Medieval mainland European coins can be traced back to Andronicus III Palaeologus' (1328 - 1341 A.D.) Bronze Assarion hammered into existance at the Mint in Constantinople, Byzantium Empire. Obv: Fleury Cross Rev: ANDRONIKOC [...], emperor standing with scepter. (Sear notes that there is some doubt as to the identification of this issue; it may have been issued under Andronicus II & Michael IX.) Photo courtesy of Joe Winnett: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sb/sb2481.1.jpg The earliest use of coins in England can be traced back to the Northumbrian Vikings. The coins bear both Long Cross and Small Cross designs. Here's a few examples: Cunni Type Penny (895 - 902) w/both long and short crosses: http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/hamm/edeld/1d/548.jpg North Eastern Type Penny (Aethelstan 924 - 939): http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/hamm/aethel/1d/ae1d.jpg Small Crossd Type Penny (Eadgar 959 - 975): http://www.ukcoinpics.co.uk/hamm/eadgar/1d/1dsc.jpg Fleury Cross coins struck during England's Middle Ages reaches back in time to the Norman Conquest period (1066-1153 A.D.). Marshall Faintich maintains a web page on these coins: http://www.symbolicmessengers.com/Norman_Coins_of_England.htm Let's not forget France's Fleury Cross coins: When numismatic historians think of coins-and-crosses, many visualize Joan d'Arch astride a charging steed. From that Crusader period I present to you this Silver Denier when Bohemund III, minority of A.D. 1149 to 1163 defended Antioch. Photo courtesy of Calgary Coin Gallery: http://www.calgarycoin.com/medieval/4571Lg.jpg When the chroniclers of Merrie Olde England recorded the initial minting of coins with religious symbols, they pointed to the ancestral evidence of the Celts. Here's a James VI 1577 Half-Merk or Noble bearing the Scottish Arms on one side and a Fleury Cross on the other side (courtesy of Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:James_VI_noble_1577_612680.jpg What about recent coins with Fleury Crosses on them? We are going to examine the coinage of Andorra: 1997 Proof 25 Diners (photo courtesy of wbcc-online). Scroll to 2nd photo: The same "Fleury Cross" on obverse design was featured on an Andorran 1997 Gold 20 Diners proof with Queen Isabella I on reverse 1988 Silver 25 Diners (20,000 NCLTs and 10,000 proofs) with Grasped hands on the reverse to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Andorra's Governing Charter. A 1988 Gold 250 Diners (3000 NCLTs) also honored the anniversary. http://www.wbcc-online.com/ctrys-a/andor97-25d.jpg Hope you enjoyed.... Clinker
Another useful lesson in coin symbolism. Have always looked at crossed to see if they were long or short. Checked for the cross typeface ..... Christian, Celtic, Altemus. Ironside or other. Now I have learned to look for fleury designs. Thanks for the lesson. The care you are devoting to your research is appreciated. Absolutely love those coins of the Crusading era [1095-1291].
To Honolulu Dick... Thanks for reading and commenting. Do you know some coins with a cross, bear that cross to make it easier for merchants and the poor to cut the coin into fourths thus creating 1/4 Pennies, 1/4 Rupees, 1/2 Pence, 1/2 Rupees, etc.? Clinker
