Edward I Groat, new coinage from 1279, London Mint, variety d, class 7

Edward I (1272-1307), silver Groat of Fourpence, new coinage (1279-1307), London Mint, variety d, Fox class 7, facing crowned bust within two linear and a central beaded quatrefoil, bushy hair with pointed chin, wide crown with spearhead ornaments, segmented drapery at neck with central rosette, pierced cinquefoil either side of head, pelleted trefoils in each spandrel, legend with beaded inner and outer circle surrounding, colon stops, initial mark cross pattée, +EDWARDVS: DI: GRA: REX: AnGL':, rev. long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, double concentric legends and beaded circles surrounding, LOn DOn IA C IVI inner legend, outer legend continues titles from obverse with colon stops, :DN'S hIBn E DVX AQVT', weight 5.47g (S.C.B.I. 39:12; N.1009; S.1379D). Toned, well struck with a delightful portrait, for this rare first coinage of the Groat as a new denomination, some light scuffs and scratches thankfully not on the portrait and coin does not appear to have been ever mounted like so many examples of this coinage are due to their popularity in later use as pilgrim's badges, good very fine, very rare thus.

The obverse Latin legend translates as "Edward by the grace of God, King of England" and the reverse as "Lord of Ireland, Duke of Aquitaine" in the outer legend, with the inner legend as "City of London."

Notoriously hard to find well struck and in a good state of preservation as demonstrated herewith, such coins though not an initial success in commerce were greatly revered by the Christian pilgrims who would often mount or gild such pieces of Edward I. The majority of surviving examples in private hands are therefore not as well preserved as the coin offered here.

A major new coinage was embarked upon in 1279 which introduced the new "Groat" worth Fourpence weighed 89 grains, the name coming from the similar sized coin in France the "Gros". As more than thirty obverse dies were used alone a number of classes and sub-varieties again have been delineated over the years, in line with classes 1 to 3 of the Penny series. Another administerial measure introduced at this time was the abandonment of the name of the moneyer, as mint activity became more centralized and with provincial mints only assisting for the first two years of the new coinage, at which point from 1281 only London, Canterbury, Durham and Bury continue with minting.

Provenance:

Ex Spink Coin Auction, 25^th January 2019, lot 1617.

Ex London Coins, Auction 115, 1^st June 2019, lot 2397.