Richard III (1483-1485), Cross and Pellets coinage, Dublin, mm. not visible, annulets by neck, rev. quatrefoil in centre, no extra pellets, 0.26g/11h (Burns Du-17R; S 6410). Small, fine, excessively rare £500-700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Irish Pennies of Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III from the Collection of O. Mac Conamhna.

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This piece is struck from the punch observed by Burns as belonging to the period between Richard III’s accession to the throne on 6 July 1483 and a far-reaching proclamation issued by him on 18 July. The proclamation, as with Edward IV’s indenture to Galmole, references the instigation of the three crowns issue and orders the ‘...damning and utterly destroying [of] all the stamps and irons...wherewith the sylver coignes of that our land hath hiderto be made at any place or time’. This final cross and pellets issue, identified from a punch known with the names of both Edward and Richard, is unlikely to have survived Richard’s direct and uncompromising commands