Important British and World Coins

Edward III (1327-1377), Second issue, Half-Noble, King in plain armour in ship, ropes 3-2, saltire stops, rev. mm. cross pattée, l in centre, double saltire stops, Lombardic ns both sides, 4.41g/8h (SCBI Schneider Pt II, 1A, different dies; N –; S 1479A). Slight surface scrape on ship, otherwise nearly extremely fine and the finer of the two known specimens, excessively rare (£6,000-8,000)

This important and previously unpublished coin is from the first coinage of nobles, half- and quarter-nobles introduced in July 1344, following the unsuccessful issue of double-florins, florins and half-florins made earlier in the year. The double-florin was current for six shillings and the noble for six shillings and eightpence, equal to half a mark and a third of a pound, a more sensible and acceptable denomination. The coinage proved successful, continuing not only throughout the remainder of Edward III’s long reign but throughout the reigns of his four immediate successors and into that of the fifth until the introduction of Edward IV’s light coinage in 1464. The coinage, much imitated on the continent, lasted for 120 years.

The l in the centre of the reverse, thought to represent London, was replaced by an e for Edward (and in due course with an r for Richard II and an h for Henrys IV, V and VI), the only other departure being the c in centre of some of the coins minted at Calais