Rare Contemporary Forgery

365, Lot: 530. Estimate $100. Sold for $140. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

YORK (Restored). Edward IV. Second reign, 1471-1483. AR Halfgroat (17.5mm, 1.01 g, 3h). Contemporary (European?) forgery. Crowned facing bust, within tressure of arches, retrograde C on breast / Long cross pattée, with trefoil in each quarter; retrograde S in CIVITAS. MHG App. 6, iv. EF, toned, struck on a small flan (as usual, see below). Rare forgery.

As noted by D.I. Greenhalgh (in MHG), “These appear to have been struck from near to currency grade silver but of light weight, simulating clipped coins. These pieces represent a serious forgery attempt during the second reign of Edward IV or from the reign of Richard III.”