Edward III Coin – Silver Groat – London 1361-1369

Description

Heading: Edward III Coin – Silver Groat – London Mint 1361-69

Denomination: Silver groat

Period: Plantagenet 

Date: 1361-69

Origin: London mint. treaty period. cross potent mint mark

Condition: VF. slight loss to edges

Obverse: Crowned facing bust of king. tressure of arches and fleurs on cusps. +EDWARD:DIE:G:REX:ANGL:DnS:HYB.Z.AQT (double annulet stops)

Reverse: Long cross with three pellets in each angle. legend around in two circles. +POSVI DEVM A DIVTOR EM:MEV/ CIVI TAS LON DON (double saltire stops)

Size and Weight: 27mm. 4.44g

References: N1252. S1616

Features and Provenance: It has been calculated by a genealogist. that nearly every Briton is related to Edward III! Whether true or not. he and his wife. Phillippa of Hainault had eight sons and five daughters. so there was a large gene pool to start with.

The treaty described was that produced between England and John II of France known as the Bretigny Treaty. but was never fully implemented as John was captured after a battle and ransomed for 3 million crowns. Remarkably. to raise this sum John was allowed to return to France after a million crowns was paid and he left his two sons and other individuals as hostages instead. However. one of his sons escaped and to fulfil his promise John returned to England to be imprisoned! He later died in captivity and his son took the throne and promptly called the treaty void and declared war again – continuing the hundred years war!

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible