England (1399-1412) 1/2 noble Fr-104
This specimen was lot 21 in Sincona sale 75 (Zürich, May 2022), where it sold for 8,000 CHF (about US$9,711 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "Grossbritannien | Königreich. Henry IV. 1399-1413. 1/2 Noble n. d. (1399-1412), London. Heavy coinage. Mintmark cross pattée. Old arms with four lis. Äusserst selten. NGC CLIPPED. Beschnitten. (Extremely rare, Clipped.)" The gold noble, originally 120 grains on its introduction, was reduced to 108 grains in 1412 with a value of six shillings eight pence. The half noble followed suit. This is from the heavy coinage, before the reduction in weight. The evildoer who clipped this coin likely hoped he could pass it for a half noble of the light coinage.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, 60 grains (3.88 g), this specimen 3.52 g.
Catalog reference: Spink 1709. Fr-104.
- 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.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 75, SINCONA British Collection - Part 2, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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