England (1485-1509) farthing
This specimen was lot 40305 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $4,320. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Farthing, ND (1485-1509). London Mint. Henry VII. NGC MS-62. Obverse: Facing bust with single-arched crown; Reverse: Cross fourchee with trefoil of pellets in angles. An EXTRAORDINARILY RARE type, let alone in Mint State; the few examples that have come to market have been universally corroded, chipped, or heav[il]y worn. The present piece by contrast exhibits no signs of environmental damage or wear, with bright silvery-white surfaces that have retained ample luster. A singular opportunity for collectors of rare English hammered issues. From the Richard August Collection." While pennies and halfgroats (two pences) are readily available from the reign, farthings and halfpence are scarce to rare. Examples exist of pennies cut in half to make change.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 0.15 g, silver, 9 mm diameter, this specimen 0.17 g.
Catalog reference: S-2250; N-1739.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2025 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Richard August Collection and the Richard Margolis Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
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