Richard II Noble, Tower Mint, type IVa, scallop on rudder MS61

Richard II (1377-99), gold Noble, Tower Mint, type IVa, obverse legend with scallop shell after DI and GRA, pellet on rudder? King standing in ship with upright sword and quartered shield, flag at stern of ship, beaded circle surrounding, RIC ARDx DI*GRA* REXx AnGL' xZx FRAnCxx DnSx hIBx Zx AQ T, rev. R at centre of ornamental cross with lis terminals, crowns over lions in angles, all within a beaded and linear tressure, fleurs in spandrels, legend +IhC'x AVTEm'x TRAnSIEnSxx PERxx mEDIV'x ILLORVxx IBAT, 7.55g (Schneider ---; Webb Ware 4a; N.1304; S.1658). Rim a little ragged at upper left of obverse, two small raised die flaws on reverse legend, has been graded and slabbed by NGC as MS61, extremely rare with the scallop shell in legend rather than on rudder of ship, no example in the Schneider collection.

NGC Certification 5880656-013.

We note this is the only example so far graded by NGC of S.1658 so this piece is top of the population there, however PCGS have graded one example higher.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Richard by the Grace of God, King of England and France and 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 A H Baldwin, purchased 1^st April 2005.

Ex Lord Stewartby Collection part III, Spink Coin Auction, 26th September 2016, lot 922.