The J. P. Mass Collection

As the most comprehensive catalogue ever published of English Short Cross coins (1180-1247), this volume will be the standard reference work on this complex series for museum curators, archaeologists and collectors alike. The Short Cross series of Henry II-III has been a focus of interest and controversy since the early nineteenth century, but there has not yet been a comprehensive exposition and accompanying photographic record. This catalogue illustrates 2200 coins from the collection of the late Jeffrey Mass (d.2001) - a collection more representative than even the British Museum's substantial holding. Every moneyer is included in every class, and every coin is accompanied by a full description. Eleven introductory chapters, including essays by other distinguished experts, provide a definitive account of the classification, both illuminating the evolution of the coinage, and emphasizing the scope and richness of this fascinating series.