Edward III (1327-77), gold Noble of Six Shillings and Eight Pence, Tower Mint London, Fourth Coinage, Pre-Treaty series C (1351-52), King standing in ship sailing right, with upright sword and quartered shield, legend and beaded circles surrounding, with annulet stops both sides, E DWARD’o DEIo GRAo REXo ANGLo Z FRoANC’o Do hYB’, rev. large E at centre of ornamental cross with lis terminals, crowns over lions in angles, fleur de lis by upper right lion, all within a beaded and linear tressure, fleurs in spandrels, legend +IhCo AVTEmo TRANCIENSo Po mEDIVmo ILLORVmo IBAT, weight 7.79g (Schneider 16; N.1144; S.1486). Light red tone, fully round and well-centred, just a touch weak in places, otherwise extremely fine and rare.

The Pre-Treaty type C gold coins are dated into the Fourth Coinage of King Edward III along with types A and B, the accounting period for which starts from the 24th June 1351. Series C is thought to be the one that transgresses from 1351 into 1352, with the later D series taking over in 1352. Therefore, the actual amount of coin struck of series C was only for a few months perhaps relating only to the accounting period of the 25th October 1351 until 4th March 1352 and perhaps not much later. What is known is that for this period of four months £24,836 worth of Nobles, halves and quarters were struck which is a very small proportion of the Pre-Treaty coinage which becomes much more plentiful in the later series E to G.

Provenance:
Ex U.B.S., Switzerland, Sale 58, 27th January 2004, lot 2116.