Rare Gold Angel of King Richard III

Richard III (1483-85), gold Angel of Six Shillings and Eight Pence, Tower Mint London, Type 2b/3 mule, St Michael slaying dragon right, legend and beaded border surrounding on both sides, initial mark boar’s head (1483-85), saltire stops, RICARDx DIx GRAx REXx AnGLx Z FRAnCx x, rev. ship sailing right, quartered shield at centre, R and rose above with cross, initial mark halved sun and rose 2, PER CRVCE'x TVAx SALVA nOS XPCx REDEDmT, weight 5.11g (Schneider 495; N.1677; S.2151/2152). Toned, a little weak in parts, otherwise good very fine and rare.

The gold coinage of Richard III has been studied in depth and a sequence of dies worked out, though an exact chronology cannot be given to fit the long accounting periods over what is a short reign. Across a near 26 month reign, there are three types of gold Angel of which one type sub-divides into two, and there is sharing of dies between the types to further cloud the chronology, giving muling of mint marks of which there are two basic types which are divided into five further sub-types.

This coin is of class 2b/3 a mule between the two types of mint mark sun and rose (type 2) and boar’s head. The Richard III gold is rare and just under £30,000 worth was struck of the Angel and Half-Angel only during his reign.

Provenance:
Ex A. H. Baldwin and Sons Ltd, purchased circa 2006.