Richard II gold Noble, Calais Mint, type 3a French title resumed

Richard II (1377-99),gold Noble of six shillings and eight pence, Calais Mint, type 3a, with French title resumed, armoured King standing in ship with upright sword and quartered shield, flag at stern of ship for Calais Mint, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, double saltire stops in legend, RIC ARDxx DIxx GRAxx REXxx AnGLxx Zx FRAnCxx DnSxx hIBxx Zx AQ T,rev.R at centre of ornate cross with lis terminals, crown over lion in each angle, all within a tressure of eight arcs, fleurs in spandrels, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, initial mark cross pattée, IhCxx AVTEmxx TRAnSIEnSxx PERxx mEDIVxx ILLORVmxx IBAT, weight 7.69g (Schneider 168 same dies; N.1307; S.1661).Toned, a little blundered in striking of legend, edge a little bright though weight practically full, otherwise with good detail, good very fine.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Richard by the Grace of God, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland and Aquitaine"; and on the reverse "But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went His way" taken from the Bible.

Just over £120,000 worth of gold was issued from the Calais mint throughout the reign, and what with the chronological sequence of types of dies used only being worked out recently by Tim Webb-Ware in the 1980s, it is not possible to date the periods of use any further as the Calais mint output was so erratic.

Provenance:

Ex Dr Andrew Wayne Collection, Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 73, 13^th September 2006, lot 1249.

Ex Paul Runze Collection.