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The coins reproduced for these
earrings are taken from an original quarter-noble, a gold coin probably
struck shortly after 1344. During Mediaeval times coins were made by hand
using an iron punch called a die. Two dies were needed for each coin, one
showing the 'heads side' and one showing the 'tails'. A piece of silver or
gold was placed between the dies and a sharp hammer blow to these would
create a coin.
Its value at that time would
have been approximately one twelfth of one pound which was a lot of money in
those days. As well as introducing gold coinage, Edward also had the
misfortune to see up to 40% of his population wiped out by the Black Death
in 1348/9, leaving perhaps a thousand villages abandoned.
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