The David Greenhalgh Collection of Medieval Halfgroats

Ireland, Henry VI, Annulet issue, Groat, Calais, annulets by neck and in two quarters, 1.70g/11h; Rosette-Mascle issue, Halfgroat, London, mascle before lon, rosette after don, 0.90g/5h (N 1424, 1447; S 1836, 1861) [2]. Both cut down to inner circles, first good fine, second better but cracked and very rare £100-150

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Greenhalgh Collection of Medieval Halfgroats.

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Collection

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