England (1495-98) groat
The first specimen was lot 71624 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, October 2020), where it sold for $228. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Groat, ND (1495-98). London Mint; im: pansy. Henry VII. PCGS EF-40 Gold Shield. Quite deeply toned, this example offers a solid strike for the type and a rather expressive portrait. This issue emanates from the founder of the Tudor dynasty, as Henry defeated King Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, ascending to the throne, ending the War of the Roses, and paving the way for his younger and more famous son, also named Henry, to succeed him as Henry VIII in 1509." The second specimen was lot 71095 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2022), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[2] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. Groat, ND (1495-98). London Mint; mm: pansy. Henry VII. PCGS EF-45. Obverse: Crowned facing bust within tressure of seven arcs; Reverse: Long cross fourchee, with trefoil in each quarter. Presenting a rather pensive facing portrait of the king, this whole and pleasingly toned example exhibits only even handling upon the higher points along with some hints of brilliance in the protected areas. Ex: Dr. Cedric S. Raine Collection (Davisson's 34 - 1/2015) Lot # 152." We are not sure if the auctioneers' attribution is correct as mintmark 30 (pansy) is not mentioned for S.2199a but is for S.2198a and S.2199. A groat is fourpence.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: silver.
Catalog reference: S-2199; N-1705c.
- 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, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The October 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2022 World Collectors Choice Online Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring Selections from the Kings Norton Mint Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
Link to: