Coins in Shakespeare's purse?

[RWB]

This year (today, actually) marks the 400th anniversary of Will Shakespeare's death.

 

Iago: "Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,

Is the immediate jewel of their souls.

Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;

'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;

But he that filches from me my good name

Robs me of that which not enriches him,

And makes me poor indeed.

[Othello Act 3, scene 3, 155–161]

 

What coins do you think Shakespeare would have had in his purse during his career?

[Zebo]

Possibly:

English - penny, three-farthings, groat, testoon, crowns, angels and nobles

Along with foreign:

doit, ducat, French crown

[RWB]

.

[Zebo]

I just ran across an excellent blog associated with the sale of three commemorative Shakespeare coins (2016) on the subject at Chards that discusses this topic.

 

What is interesting is that sovereigns or half sovereigns are not mentioned. Angles were much more in favor at that time. Sovereigns valued at 20 shillings were beyond most of the general public as wages were low.

 

It's interesting that the blog mentions King James I being a fan of Shakespeare. James was the King that shelved the sovereign for some 200 years in favor of the Unite.