Sale: Triton VII, Lot: 1269. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Monday, 12 January 2004.  Sold For $16000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Edward I. 1272-1307. AR Groat (5.53 gm). Reform coinage, after 1279. London mint. +EDWARDVS: D'I: GRA': REX: ANGL':, crowned bust facing within quadrilobe with fleurs at angles; rosettes at either side of head and below bust / E DVX AQVT :DN' S hIBR, LONDONIA CIVI, long cross fleury with three pellets in quarters. SCBI 39, 1; North 1007; SCBC 1379A. Good VF, with choice old collection toning. One of the finest known examples of the rare first English groat. [See color enlargement on plate 23] ($7500)

Ex John W. Garrett Collection (Numismatic Fine Arts & Leu, 16-18 October 1984), lot 779; purchased Chapman Bros., 13 April 1922 (includes collection ticket).

Edward introduced this denomination with his reform of 1279. While there are too many varieties to consider it a pattern, North does consider the groat to have been experimental. It was not popular as a circulating coin, perhaps meeting too much competition from the French gros, and production ceased shortly after its introduction. It was, however, very popular as an item of jewelry and that is how most pieces have survived. Unmounted and ungilt pieces such as this piece are very rare, especially with the additional attraction of a first class pedigree.