England (1483) groat S-2154
This specimen was lot 1235 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2022), where it sold for $7,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Groat, ND (1483). London Mint; mm: halved sun & rose. Richard III. PCGS AU-58. Obverse: Crowned facing bust within tressure of arches with trefoils at cusps; RICΛRD; Reverse: Long cross pattee; trefoils in quarters. Without doubt, one of the most attractive and alluring examples of the type that one can hope to encounter, this barely handled survivor presents elegant cabinet toning and a good deal of brilliance emanating from the protected areas. All details and devices are bold and well struck, and this breathtaking specimen will assuredly generate tremendous enthusiasm and spirited bidding. Though his name has been overshadowed by the Shakespearian play about him, Richard III plays an important role as the last English monarch of the House of York. The son of Richard Duke of York, his father was a claimant to the throne held by Henry VI. This group, known as the House of York, vied in open civil war against loyalists to Henry VI known as Lancastrians. Despite the conflict, Richard ascended the throne from Edward V based on a rumor perpetuated that Edward V was an illegitimate child of Edward IV. Parliament confirmed his ascension and Edward, his own nephew, disappeared shortly thereafter. If Richard had a hand in this is still unknown, but the possibility has been speculated since at least the time of Shakespeare. Never fully in control of his realm, Richard rode to face Henry VII in the Battle of Bosworth field. Despite his army having superior numbers, his forces were routed, and Richard III died in battle, according to his adversary, gallantly. The death of Richard III signaled the end of the house of York, and the beginning of the House of Tudor under Henry VII. From the Paul C. Runze Collection (purchased from Davisson's)." The halved sun & rose mintmark dates this groat to 1483; the slightly later S-2156 has a boar's head mintmark.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: S-2154; N-1679.
- Skingley, Philip, ed., Standard Catalogue of British Coins: Coins of England & the United Kingdom, 46th edition, London: Spink & Son, 2011.
- Lobel, Richard, Mark Davidson, Allan Hailstone and Eleni Calligas, Coincraft's Standard Catalogue of English and UK Coins, 1066 to Date, London: Coincraft, 1995.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The 2022 NYINC Sale: World and Ancient Coins, featuring the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection and the Pat Johnson Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
Link to:
- England (1483) groat S-2146 Edward IV or V
- England (1483) angel Fr-141 Edward V
- England (1483-85) groat Richard III
- England (1484-85) groat Richard III
- Coins and currency dated 1483