Richard III Groat, mm sun and rose 2, pellet below bust, ex Saxon Barton and Fitts

Richard III (1483-85),silver Groat, type III, London Mint, facing crowned bust in double tressure of nine arcs, pellet in spandrel bellow, fleurs on cusps, beaded circles and Latin legend surrounding, initial mark sun and rose 2 both sides, RICARDx DIx GRAx REXxx AnGLx Z FRAnC,rev.long cross pattée, tri-pellets in each inner angle, beaded circles and twin concentric legend surrounding, outer legend with unbarred A, inner legend with chevron barred A, CIVI TAS LOn DOn, outer legend surrounding, POSVI DEVmx A DIVTOR E' mEVm, weight 3.13g (Winstanley 11; N.1680; S.2158).A little uneven in shape, with a slight die clash evident, otherwise very fine with a bold portrait, scarce variety with pellet below.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse, "Richard, by the grace of God, King of England and France." and on the reverse inner legend "City of London" and the outer as "I have made God my helper" a Psalm from the Bible.

Provenance:

Ex Dr S. Saxon Barton, Spink Coin Auction 16, 9^th July 1981, lot 357.

Ex Arthur M. Fitts III, Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 87, 18^th May 2011, lot 2098.

Ex Triton XXIII, Classical Numismatic Group, 14^th January 2020, lot 1301.

Previous owner of this coin Doctor S. Saxon Barton of Liverpool was a surgeon by profession and an amateur historian. Between the two world wars he formed a collection of coins of the Plantagenet kings and was a firm believer that history had been unkind to Richard III Therefore in 1924 he founded 'The Fellowship of the White Boar' with the aim of promoting a more balanced view of Richard's life, his character and what he did. Holding true to Saxon Barton's original mission statement eventually the Fellowship evolved into the Richard III Society during the 1950s, which continues to flourish to this day.