Henry VI (First reign, 1422-1461), Pinecone-Mascle issue, Groat, Calais, mm. crosses IIIb/V, fleurs on three left cusps only, no stops after la, 3.70g/11h (Lessen, SNC June 2006, pp.144-5, this coin; Whitton –; N 1461; S 1875). Traces of scribed inner circle from the reverse apparent as a partial ‘halo’ on the obverse, very fine, rare £200-£260

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The North Yorkshire Moors Collection of British Coins.

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Provenance: Bt CNG August 2005.

Lessen explains that the likely scenario behind the apparent ‘halo’ is that the layout of the obverse die used to make this coin was apparently begun as that of a reverse die with the scribing of the guide circle intended for the inner circle. The die-sinker apparently realised his error as the tool was subsequently elaborated and became an obverse die