Henry VI (1422-61), Groat, ‘Calais’, crowned bust facing, rev. long cross and pellets, villa calisie, 1.93g/12h (cf. N 1427; cf. S 1836). A contemporary copy, struck on a clipped flan, nearly extremely fine and very rare thus
£300-400

It is generally accepted that forgeries of English groats and halfgroats, cut down to the inner circles, circulated widely in Ireland in the 15th century and are the so-called ‘O’Reilly’s money’ mentioned in Acts of Parliament in 1447 and 1456