England (1430-31) noble Fr-115
This specimen was lot 1537 in Sincona sale 82 (Zürich, May 2023), where it sold for 14,000 CHF (about US$18,736 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "Henry VI. First Reign, 1422-1461. Noble n. d. (c.1430-1431), Tower Mint. Rosette-mascle issue. Mintmark "lis". Lis by wrist, rosette stops, lis by head of lion in second quarter of reverse. Selten in dieser Erhaltung (Rare in this condition). NGC AU58. Finest certified by NGC." 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. This was maintained thru the unhappy reign of Henry VI despite a gradually worsening shortage of bullion.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: gold, 108 grains (6.99 g); this specimen 6.84 g.
Catalog reference: Spink 1817, Schneider coll. 305 var, Fr-115.
- 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 82, British Collection, Part 4, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2023.
Link to: