England (1279-1307) groat
This specimen was lot 31155 in Heritage sale 3089 (Dallas, TX, January 2021), where it sold for $19,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "Great Britain. Edward I (1272-1307) Groat (4 Pence) ND (1279-1307) AU50 NGC, London mint, Variety B. Variety featuring crown with four crescents carrying pearl ornaments, large face with flat hair, rosette in center of drapery, and triple pellet stops. +ЄDWARDVS: D'I: GRA': RЄX: AnGL': (triple pellet stops), crowned bust facing; rosette to left and right; all within quadrilobe with small flower in spandrels / :DN'S | ҺIBn' | Є DVX | AQVT // LOn | DOn | IA C | IVI (triple pellet stop at beginning of legend), long cross fleurée with trefoil in each quarter. A highly attractive piece, featuring a strong strike and only a few light edge cracks. Steel gray dominates the toning, but some hints of cobalt and goldenrod are evident. Most importantly, this wondrous specimen has survived intact without any of the typical problems which plague the type. This large size silver denomination was introduced under Edward I in 1279, appearing alongside the still relatively new and redesigned long-cross Penny, as well as the 1/2 Penny and Farthing, and it quickly proved to be unpopular in terms of daily circulation and monetary use. However, they were revered as decorative objects, and quite commonly covered with a layer of gilt and/or mounted for ornamentation. Untouched examples such as the present piece are an incredible rarity and deserve a great deal of attention and focus, and it is a highly interesting and important piece within British numismatics. Ex. Stack Collection (Sotheby's, April 1999, Lot 703); Christie's (February 1989, Lot 211). From the Penn Collection." The groat, or fourpence, was introduced in late medieval Italy to supplement the silver penny, which had shrunk too small for convenient use.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver, this specimen 5.70 g.
Catalog reference: S-1379b, N-1008 (VR), Fox-6.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, Heritage Auction 3089: NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum & Signature Auction - Dallas, featuring the Cape Coral Collection of European Crowns and the Penn Collection, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2020.
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