Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 1 25 Sep 2018
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Edward III (1327-77), gold Half-Noble of Three Shillings and Fourpence, second period (1344-46), London Mint, King standing with sword and quartered shield in ship sailing right, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, small saltire stops, ED WARD'x GRA'x REX'x AnGL' z FRAnC'x DnSx HyB, rev. L for London at centre of ornate cross with lis terminals, crown over lion in each angle, all within tressure of eight arcs, fleurs in spandrels, Latin legend and beaded borders surrounding, initial mark cross pattée with pair of small saltires either side, +xx DOmInEx nE In x FVRORExx TVOxx ARGVASxx mExx, weight 4.41g (Schneider 1A; North -; Stewartby p.196, plate 19 no.213; S.1479A). Brilliant and crisp, super example of the greatest rarity in the Half Noble series, one slight scrape from soil recovery on hull of ship, one light crease, otherwise good very fine and of the highest rarity, one of only two known examples, none in museums.
Provenance:
Ex Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 71, 28th September 2006, lot 550, sold for £24,000 hammer.
This is an example of the earliest Half-Noble struck, dating from July 1344-46 with the reverse carrying a letter L for London at centre. The Noble and its fractions quickly became the most successful gold denomination not just in England but also for trade into Europe where the denomination was easily divisible into the European Mark.No example of this early Half-Noble was known, until the first was physically found in the ground during 1997. In lesser condition with large spade marks, this first coin has since found its way to the famous Schneider collection and is the example illustrated by Lord Stewartby. Therefore, no example languishes in any museum or institutional collection either, making the coin offered herewith the rarest and finest known of this great rarity.
This is only the second time that this finer example of the coin has ever been offered for public sale.
Provenance:
Ex Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 71, 28th September 2006, lot 550, sold for £24,000 hammer.
This is an example of the earliest Half-Noble struck, dating from July 1344-46 with the reverse carrying a letter L for London at centre. The Noble and its fractions quickly became the most successful gold denomination not just in England but also for trade into Europe where the denomination was easily divisible into the European Mark.No example of this early Half-Noble was known, until the first was physically found in the ground during 1997. In lesser condition with large spade marks, this first coin has since found its way to the famous Schneider collection and is the example illustrated by Lord Stewartby. Therefore, no example languishes in any museum or institutional collection either, making the coin offered herewith the rarest and finest known of this great rarity.
This is only the second time that this finer example of the coin has ever been offered for public sale.