Richard II Groat type II, super portrait piece of this usually weak coinage

Richard II (1377-99), silver Groat of Fourpence, type II, facing crowned bust within double tressure of nine arcs, fleur on each cusp including breast, legend with inner and outer beaded circles surrounding, saltire stops, initial mark cross pattée, +RICARD'x DIxx GRAxx REXx AnGLxZx FRAnCIE, retrograde Z, rev. long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, double concentric legends with beaded inner and outer circles surrounding, inner legend reads CIVI TAS LON DON, last N with contraction mark above, outer legend reads, +POSVI DEVmxx A DIVTOR Emxx mEV, weight 4.49g (N.1320b; S.1679). Toned, a little uneven in shape as usual for these issues, good very fine for the issue, a superb portrait piece of this very rare issue, extremely rare.

Though the exact chronology is uncertain, there are four types defined of the silver coinage of King Richard II with the Groat being the largest coin, of which this is type 2 based on the style of the bust and the retrograde Z in legend.

The obverse Latin legend translates as "Richard by the grace of God, King of England and France" and the reverse as "I have made God my helper" in the outer legend and "City of London" on the inner legend.

Provenance:

Purchased from Spink and Son Ltd, 15^th October 2002.

Ex Neil Smith Collection of British Silver Coins, New York Sale XLIX, 15^th January 2020, lot 1243.