Very Rare Boar’s Head 1 Over Sun & Rose 1

CNG 85, Lot: 1539. Estimate $2500. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

YORK (Restored). Richard III. 1483-1485. AR Groat (25mm, 3.07 g, 11h). Type 2b. London mint; im: boar’s head 1 over sun & rose 1 / boar’s head 2. Struck 1483-1484. RICΛRD DI GRΛ RЄX ΛnGL Z FRΛnC, crowned facing bust in tressure of arches; fleurs on cusps (except over crown) / POSVI DЄVm ΛDIVTORЄ mЄVm//CIVITAS LOnDOn, long cross pattée; three pellets in quarters. Cf. Winstanley 5 (BH1 over S&R1 not noted); North 1679; SCBC 2156. VF, toned. Very rare im variety.

For other examples from the same obverse die, see Spink 176 (30 September 2005), lot 357 and Spink Numismatic Circular CXII.5 (October 2004), no. HS1850. For a groat struck with this obverse die before the im was overpunched with the boar’s head, see Spink 16 (9 July 1981), lot 354.