England (1399-1412) noble Fr-103
The first specimen was lot 20017 in Ponterio sale 176 (Chicago, August 2013), where it sold for $28,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Henry IV, 1399-1413. Noble, ND (1399-1412). Heavy Coinage. Very Rare and Unusual Heavy/Light Coinage Mule King standing on ship with crescent on rudder, holding sword and shield, style 1 with four lis in upper left quadrant. Rv. ‘H’ at center of cross; alternating crowns and lis within eight arches. Type A. Cross pattée. A fascinating example and unusual Heavy/Light Coinage muling. The obverse die is clearly Schneider 189 (listed at 118.1 grains), however this example weighs in at the Light Coinage standard. A handsome example with lovely color. A small edge knock at 9:30, otherwise not far from being as made. A key for the specialist of these early types. Very Fine Plus. Ex: Seaby, 1985." The second specimen was lot 1025 in Sincona sale 79 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 32,000 CHF (about US$38,352 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[2] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN | Königreich, Henry IV. 1399-1412. Noble n. d. (1399-1412), Calais. Heavy coinage. Type Ia. Mintmark cross pattée. Cr[ow]n on rudder, flag at stern. Extremely rare. NGC MS62. Magnificent condition." 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. In 1412 the noble was reduced from 120 grains to 108 grains.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, 120 grains (7.8 g); the first specimen 107.8 grains, the second specimen is 7.63 g.
Catalog reference: S-1705; North-1336a; Fr-103/106. The second specimen is Spink 1707, Schneider coll. 193, Fr-103.
- 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]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 79, British Collection, Part 3, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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