England (1560-61) halfgroat
The first specimen was lot 40350 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Oklahoma City, OK, August 2025), where it sold for $9,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. 2 Pence (1/2 Groat), ND (1560-61). London Mint; mm: Star. Elizabeth I. PCGS MS-62. Obverse: Crowned and mantled bust left, wearing ruffled collar; Reverse: Coat-of-arms over long cross fourchee. An undated issue that takes the spot as one of the first milled issues struck for circulation by England, using screw press technology that had been invented only a decade prior. Bold and glossy, the detail virtually as struck and highlighted by handsome antique toning. RARE so fine. From the Richard August Collection." The second specimen was lot 75394 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2025), where it sold for $145. The catalog description[2] noted, "GREAT BRITAIN. 1/2 Groat (2 Pence), ND (1560-61). London Mint; mm: Martlet. Elizabeth I. PCGS Genuine--Cleaned, VF Details. Obverse: Crowned bust left; Reverse: Long cross fourchee. From the Richard August Collection."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 1 g, 0.925 fine silver, 17 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: S-2606; N-2037. The second specimen is S-2557; N-1987.
- 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.
- [2]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, September 2025 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, including Selections from the Richard Margolis Collection and Selections from the L.E. Bruun Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- (1560-61) penny, martlet mintmark
- (1560-61) groat, cross crosslet mintmark
- (1560-61) groat, star mintmark
- (1560-61) shilling, martlet mintmark
- (1560-61) gold half crown, cross crosslet mintmark
- (1560-61) crown, cross crosslet mintmark
- (1560-61) gold half pound, cross crosslet mintmark
- Coins and currency dated 1560