Edward IV First Reign Groat, Coventry, light coinage, ex Archbishop Sharp

Edward IV, first reign (1461-70), silver Groat of Fourpence, light coinage (1464-70), Coventry Mint, facing crowned bust with C on breast, quatrefoil each side of neck, within double tressure of nine arcs, fleur on each cusp, beaded circles and legend surrounding, saltire stops, initial mark sun (1465-66), EDWARD'x DIx GRAx REX'x AnGL'x Zx FRAnC, rev. long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, beaded circles and double concentric legends surrounding, CIVI TAS COVE' TRE, inner legend with trefoil stops, initial mark rose (1464-65) POSVI DEVm' A DIVTOR E' mEVm, weight 2.83g (N.1568; S.2000). Toned, struck a little short of flan and uneven in shape with a slightly light weight otherwise about very fine and rare.

The Latin abbreviated legend translates as "Edward, by the grace of God, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland" and on the reverse "I have made God my helper," a Psalm from the Bible.

Provenance:

Ex Archbishop Sharp Collection, part II, Morton and Eden, 7^th December 2017, lot 128.

Archbishop John Sharp (1644-1714), the Archbishop of York from 1691 till 1714 collected coins and medals commencing circa 1687 when Rector of St Giles in the Fields, London. His "observations on the English Coinage" written to Ralph Thoresby in 1698-99 were still circulating in manuscript form nearly 90 years later when finally published in 1785.

The Collection passed down the Sharp family with part I sold at Sotheby in 1977.