These were the testoons—copies of a French silver coin, valued in England at eighteenpence. 'They are dated (1549) MDXLIX. Thus it is under three hundred and fifty years since the English currency began to bear a year of issue on the legend.
78. As mentioned in a former chapter,[1] the new style or Gregorian correction was issued in Italy in the year 1582; and it would appear that the English Parliament, in the 27th session of Queen Elizabeth (1585), considered a bill to introduce the new style into England, but the measure reached a second reading only. The wonder is that such a Papal principle got so much support then.
79. But even in 1585, sovereigns had a fondness for inserting the regnal year as well as the year of the Christian era. But as regards dates after Charles I., it is very important to observe that though his son did not ascend the throne de facto till Tuesday 29th May, 1660, yet the regnal year then beginning was, and is, reckoned as the twelfth year of his reign up to 29th January, 1661. From 30th January, 1661 to 29th January, 1662 was, and is, the thirteenth regnal year of the second Charles, and so on thereafter. Of course 30th January was the day of the execution of Charles I., and by a legal fiction (which was evolved from an excess of loyalty) of his son's hypothetical accession to the vacant throne. This is a most important chronological fact, but is often neglected by historians.[2]
