Richard II Noble Calais Mint mule, type 2a mule with Edward III obverse die

Richard II (1377-99), gold Noble of six shillings and eight pence, Calais Mint, utilising an old Edward III obverse in his name, second issue, type 2a, with French and Aquitaine titles of Post-Treaty period, armoured King standing in ship with upright sword and quartered shield, pellet to upper right of flag at stern of ship signifying Calais Mint, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, double saltire stops in legend, EDW ARDx DIx GRAx REXx AnGLx Zx FRAnCx DnSx hIB xZx AQVIT, 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, IhCx AVTEmx TRAnSIEnSx PERx mEDIVx ILLORVx IBAT, weight 7.70g (cf.Schneider 117; Doubleday 316 this coin; N.1280/1306; S.1520/1661). Toned, double struck with slight rotation between strikes on both sides, some small digs on obverse, very fine, the only example we have seen and handled with mule combination this way around, extremely rare.

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.

Provenance:

Ex T. B. Clarke-Thornhill, Glendining, 24^th May 1937, lot 17 sold for £19.

Ex Gordon V. Doubleday, Glendining, 7-8^th June 1972, lot 316.

Ex A. H. Baldwin, 1997 when it became vault stock.

Ex A. H. Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Summer 2014, item BH017, where noted only one other mule of the two reigns had come up for sale in recent years but that piece was a better struck Richard II obverse with Edward III reverse and sold at auction in 2012 for £32,000 hammer.