A Collection of Scottish Coins, the Property of a Gentleman (Part III)

Robert II (1371-1390), Groat, Phase 3/4 mule, Edinburgh, mm. cross pattée, normal ‘Robert II’ head, tressure of six arcs, trefoils in spandrels, small star on sceptre-handle, b behind head cancelled by a large pellet, line below bust, double crosslet stops, nothing after scottorvm, crescent and crosslet after dns, plain a both sides, 3.92g/11h (SCBI 35, –; B 5a, fig. 324A, same rev. die; S 5132 var.). Surfaces cleaned and rough, obverse legend weak, portrait and privy marks very fine, extremely rare, the obverse die unpublished, with or without the pellet overstamp £300-£400

This lot is to be sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Scottish Coins, the Property of a Gentleman.

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This obverse die dates from late in the coinage when a large or small b was generally added behind the head. However for some reason, the small b on this die appears to have been obliterated or cancelled by a pellet. The vendor has not traced the die without the cancellation. This obverse is only known to the vendor coupled with a die from late in the coinage. Presumably the reason for the addition of the letter was no longer valid by the time of this coin’s issue.