The Coinages of the Channel Islands

The book offers a lively tour through the monetary past of the Channel Islands, tracing how tiny copper pieces and glittering silver tokens mirrored the archipelago’s shifting identities. Beginning with the early Celtic peoples and the faint Roman imprint left on the islands, it moves through Viking incursions and medieval trade, showing how each wave left a distinct mark on the local coinage. The narrative weaves together stone circles, ancient legends, and the practical needs of fishermen and merchants, making the islands’ financial history feel as vivid as its rugged coastline.

Drawing on the author’s extensive experience as a retired Royal Engineer and seasoned numismatist, the work balances scholarly detail with clear storytelling. Readers will follow a logical progression from the first observed coins, through Roman imports, early medieval bullion, to the distinctive Jersey silver tokens of 1813 and the later copper issues of Guernsey. Supplementary notes and a concise index round out the study, offering a handy reference for anyone curious about the way money shaped, and was shaped by, island life.