Edward IV or V, silver Groat, initial mark halved sun and rose, London

Edward IV or V (1483), silver Groat of Fourpence, type XXII, Tower Mint London, facing crowned bust within double tressure of nine arcs, fleur on each cusp except at neck, beaded circles and legend surrounding, saltire stops, initial mark halved sun and rose both sides (1483), EDWRDx DIx GRAx REXx AnGL'x Z FRAnCx, rev. long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, beaded circles and double concentric legends surrounding, CIVI TAS LOn DOn inner legend, +POSVI DEVm A DIVTOR E' mEVm, weight 3.10g (N.1631; S.2146A). Toned, short of flan otherwise very fine and very rare.

The chronology of the gold coinage across the transition of the reigns of Edward IV and the "Prince in the Tower" King Edward V have been worked out from documentary pipe-roll evidence at source.

However, it is not clear cut with the silver coinage, and a chronology cannot be accurately worked out as to what belongs in the reign of late Edward IV or the short three month reign of Edward under his Uncle Richard. The mint mark halved sun and rose certainly relates to this time period, and there are two varieties of obverse which either have or do not have a pellet under the bust. However, no documents seem to survive to tell us if this difference is significant to dating the coins to one reign or the other.

Provenance:
With an old A. H. Baldwin stock ticket priced at £4/15/-.
Ex Wolfshead Gallery, New Jersey, USA, circa 2007.