GREAT BRITAIN. Groat, ND. Henry VIII (1509-26). NGC MS-61.

S-2316; North-1762. 2.87 grams. Mintmark: Crowned Porticullis (London Mint). A museum quality Groat from this famous ruler, struck at the beginning of his reign, and obviously treated with unusual care ever since. Toned in fine quality, the obverse centers display intermingled gray and purple color, while the edges become more golden essenced. On the reverse, even more attractive colors become integrated. Perhaps even more pivotal to the overall quality however is the strike, placed on a perfectly round flan without cracks and displaying even and firm detail throughout, with perhaps peerless legibility in the outer legends. Without question, the finest example of this type we have seen, clearly besting a number of exceptional raw examples that have appeared at auction over the past two decades as well as the example from the Eric Newman Collection (NGC AU-58) that brought $1,997 when it sold in 2014. The grading services further validate the quality, as this is the single finest graded of the issue at NGC or PCGS and it remains unsurpassed in certified quality for a Henry VIII Groat of any type. A truly noteworthy piece, worthy of close attention from the collector who places elevated pride in owning exceptional examples of historic issues.