England: silver groat of Henry VI, ca. 1422-1461, from the Reigate Hoard found in Surrey

England: silver groat of Henry VI, ca. 1422-1461, from the Reigate Hoard found in Surrey

Obverse: Crowned facing bust within polylobate border; cross patonce mintmark.
Reverse: Long cross pattée, plain cross mintmark.
Issuer: Henry VI, King of England, in his first reign (1422-1461).
Specifications: Silver, 27-28 mm approx., 3.85 g. Pinecone- mascle issue, ca. 1431-1432/3. Calais mint.
Grade: PCGS XF45; cert. #37681942. Purchased raw.
Reference: PCGS-895173, Seaby-1875, North 1461.
Provenance: Ex- Patrick Jenkins ("Paddy54" on CoinTalk), 15 March 2019. Prior provenance to Gordon Andreas ("Andy") Singer, Greenbelt, Maryland. Per Andy Singer, this coin is pedigreed to the Reigate Hoard found in Surrey in 1972.
Notes: the Lancastrian Henry VI of England gained the throne as a mere nine-month-old infant in 1422, upon the death of his father, Henry V, the great warrior king of Shakespearean fame. He was deposed and imprisoned in 1461 as a result of the Wars of the Roses, and supplanted by the Yorkist Edward IV. Henry was restored to the throne in 1470, but imprisoned again when Edward retook power. He died under suspicious circumstances in the Tower of London in 1471. Henry VI was also the disputed king of France from 1422-1453, during this turbulent period when English kings ruled lands in both countries.
Comments: This handsome groat (fourpence) was struck in France, at Calais, circa 1431-33, and buried in a pottery jug with over 900 other coins in Reigate, Surrey, England, where it was discovered in 1972. Numismatic study of the hoard indicated the burial to have taken place in about 1454 or 1455. Many of the coins were very well preserved.



033500S

 

I agree, and went 10 as well this time. Not just because of ownership bias, but because I think coins with known provenance, especially pieces pedigreed to treasure hoards and shipwrecks, speak most evocatively about their history.

 

(Very belated reply)

@TheRed - that's a really handsome groat, too- I like the portrait on it.