Lot 344
Great Britain. Groat, ND. S.2156. Richard III, 1483-1485. Mint mark boar's head (type 2) both sides. Obverse has facing portrait of King and legend read RICARD. Reverse has cross and CIVITAS LONDON. A spectacular coin from the very short reign of one of Britain's most notorious monarchs. This is truly the finest example of a Richard III groat (this King's largest silver coin) which we have seen. It is a rarer variety of what is a rare coin anyway. This piece is richly toned and crisply struck with a nice original mint bloom. NGC graded AU-58.
Hunch-backed, treacherous, a child-murderer and so obviously evil that dogs barked at him- this is the popular view of Richard III, largely derived from the character portrayed in Shakespeare's play. There is, however, no evidence that he was deformed-on the contrary, he seems to have been a remarkably handsome man- and there is little evidence of anything untoward about his personality.
Richard was in his early thirties when he came to the throne. His was a brief reign, but it was eventful. The bail system for accused persons was introduced, compulsory gifts from individuals to the monarch (benevolences) were abolished and the foundation of the College of Arms brought order from chaos. The King also promoted education, endowing colleges at Cambridge. Nevertheless, the suspicions that Richard had had a hand in the disappearance of the princes (the 12 year old Edward V and his younger brother Richard) last seen in the grounds of the Tower of London in September 1483, undermined his popularity.
In August 1485, Henry Tudor, who had been biding his time in Brittany, France, landed in Wales with 3,000 French mercenaries and marched inland, picking up considerable support as he went. Richard III was essentially double-crossed by his own supporters who were in communication with Henry Tudor and, with the small number of troops which remained loyal to him Richard was killed at Bosworth Field, near Leicester. The battle ended the War of the Roses. The Tudors has arrived!
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
The Dr. Robert Hesselgesser Collection.
|
| |
| Realized $10,638 |
