Edward IV Groat, Coventry mint, light coinage

Edward IV, first reign (1461-70), silver Groat, light coinage (1464-70), Coventry mint, facing crowned bust with closed Lombardic C mint letter at base of breast, quatrefoil each side of neck, within double tressure of nine arcs, cusped fleurs, pellet stops, initial mark sun (1465-70), EDWARD DI GRA REX. AnGL Z FRAnC, rev. long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, beaded circles and double concentric legends surrounding, CIVI TAS COVE TRE, outer legend reads POSVI DEVm' A DIVTOR E'x mEVm, weight 3.05g (N.1581 - North notes local dies utilised for this precise issue; Blunt and Whitton Type VI; S.2008). Struck on an irregular flan, some softness in strike presenting in corresponding parts of legends, otherwise with a good facial portrait and colour, bold good very fine, 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. The inner Legend 'city of Coventry.'

Due to a devaluation in the coinage resulting in a great influx of bullion for reminting it was necessary for provincial mints to open in York, Bristol, Norwich and Coventry during 1465. Though no accounts survive for Norwich or Coventry they seem to have only been active for a couple of months rather than the 7 years of activity at the port of Bristol and 6 years at York.