Exceptional Emaciated Bust Groat

CNG 106, Lot: 1115. Estimate $5000. Sold for $5000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LANCASTER. Henry V. 1413-1422. AR Groat (27mm, 3.80 g, 5h). Class A, mule with Henry IV type III. Tower (London) mint; im: pierced cross/cross pattée. + hЄnRIC’· D’I · GRΛ’· RЄX · ΛnGLIЄ · Z · FRΛnC’ (saltire stops; Z retrograde), crowned ‘emaciated’ facing bust within double polylobe with fleurs at cusps / + POSVI (slipped trefoil) DЄVm : Λ D : IVTOR Єm : mЄVm/ CIVI · · TΛS · · LOИ DOИ (saltire and double saltire stops), long cross pattée, with trefoil in each angle. Harris, Pairing 7 (dies A-1/R.III-1); Potter type I, die 1; North 1385/1359; SCBC 1761. Good VF, toned, light ghosting of reverse cross. An unusually high grade example of the very rare ‘emaciated’ bust type.

Ex Motcomb Collection.

“The effect of the sunken cheeks and indentations in the lines of the face on either side just above the mouth is quite distinctive, and could not be more appropriately described than by the word ‘emaciated’, that is, gaunt and ascetic-looking.” (W. J. W. Potter, ‘The Silver Coinages of Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V’, BNJ XXX [1960–61], p.138)