The Second Finest Graded Gold Leopard D’Or of King Edward III
Edward III (1327-77), gold Leopard d'Or, third issue (July 1357), crowned lion walking left, within tressure of ten arcs, mullet in one spandrel, pierced quatrefoils in other spandrels and on cusps, beaded circles and legend surrounding, legend and beaded borders surrounding with double pierced quatrefoil stops, initial mark cross pattée, EDWARDVSxx DEIxx GRAxx ANGLIExx FRAnCIExx REX, rev. six pellets in central compartment of floreated ornamental cross, lions over pierced quatrefoils in angles, all within cartouche, voided quatrefoils in spandrels, legend and beaded borders surrounding, +XP'Cxx VInCITxx XPCxx REGHATxx XPCxx IMPERAT, weight 3.61g (Elias 39a; cf.Schneider 14; AGC 44 dies 4/b; S.8039). Fully struck, a few light surface marks on obverse, a little weaker to rear of lion, otherwise crisp and almost extremely fine, has been graded and slabbed by PCGS as AU58, the second highest of three currently graded, very rare.

PCGS certification 516754.58/34312618.

We know from surviving Aquitaine Mint reports that the first issue of the gold Leopard d’Or was in September of 1355 which was at the weight standard of 4.54g. This standard was reduced through the subsequent issues to the third issue as we have here at 3.63g issued in July of 1357 at a tariff of 40 Sterlings. The weight coupled with the fact this coin also carries the French title dates this coin firmly into the third issue and before the fourth issue of 1361 minted after the Treaty of Bretigny of October 1360, thenceforth from which the French title was dropped.

King Edward III of England was also the Duke of Aquitaine and the Count of Ponthieu from 1325.

Provenance:
Ex A. H. Baldwin, Auction 69, 3rd May 2011, lot 597 where catalogued as second issue.