Edward III (1327-77), gold Half-Noble of Three Shillings and Four Pence, Tower Mint London, Treaty Period (1361-69), Group a, King standing in ship with upright sword and quartered shield, legend and beaded circle surrounding, saltire before legend (1363-69) with saltire stops, xED WARDxx DEIxx GxxREXxx AnGLxx D'x hyBxZx AQ T, rev. E at centre of ornamental cross with lis terminals, crowns over lions in angles, all within a beaded and linear tressure, fleurs in spandrels, legend surrounding, +DomInExx nExx Inxx FVRORExx TVOxx ARGVAS mE, weight 3.84g (cf.Schneider 77; N.1238; S.1506). Toned, well struck, just a tad off-centre, good very fine and rare this well preserved.

These gold Half-Nobles were struck after the Treaty of Bretigny of 24th October 1360, which from thenceforth the coinage of Edward III dropped the claim to the French throne until 1369. The issue with a saltire cross before the E of Edward is thought to date from the 1363-69 period, a time in which some £200,000 of face value of gold was struck at the London Tower Mint in all three denomination of Noble, Half-Noble and Quarter Noble.

Provenance:
Ex U.B.S., Switzerland, Sale 58, 27th January 2004, lot 2118.