England (1369-77) noble Fr-98
The first specimen was lot 20012 in Ponterio sale 176 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $9,988. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Edward III, 1327-1377. Noble, Fourth Coinage. Post-treaty Period. ND (1369-77). Beautifully Struck Post-treaty Noble King standing on ship, holding sword and shield. Rv. 'E' at center of cross; alternating crowns and lis within eight arches. Cross Potent, ‘E’ with pellet at center. Virtually as struck; likely referred to as FDC in the past. Frosty luster on a very round flan. The central details on either side are displayed in very high relief. A real stunner and worthy of a great premium. Choice Extremely Fine. Ex: Baldwin, 1976." The second specimen was lot 41296 in Stack's Bowers Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction (Pittsburgh, August 2026), where it sold for $17,690. The catalog description[2] noted, "Stunning Nearly-Gem Noble with a Bold Strike, GREAT BRITAIN. Noble, ND (1369-77). Calais Mint. Edward III. NGC MS-64. A charming nearly-Gem Mint State exemplar, this Noble provides rich luster with a bold strike quality and an impressive character to the surfaces. About as appealing as examples of the type are likely to come. From the Uppergreen Cabinet of Numismatic Rarities." The noble was introduced by Edward III as part of a monetary reform and was tariffed at eighty pence (6 shillings 8 pence) and was the first gold coin to circulate in several centuries.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: gold, 120 grains (7.8 g); the first specimen 107.9 grains, the second specimen 7.74 g.
Catalog reference: S-1518; North-1278; Fr-98. The second specimen is S-1521; Fr-98; N-1281.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, and Bruce Roland Hagen, Ponterio sale 176: The Thos. H. Law Collection of English Gold Coins, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2013.
- 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.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, Summer 2026 Global Showcase Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2026.
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