Obverse:

EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC. Facing crowned bust in tressure of arches, quatrefoils at neck. E on breast overstruck with a fleur.

Reverse:

POSVI DEVM ADIVTORE MEVM, CIVITAS LONDON. Long cross pattée dividing the legend, with three pellets in each angle.

Insignificant striking split otherwise very fine or better, very rare and this the best example we have seen. Obverse die match to the Hulett, Lawrence and Carter example that we sold in Aug 2021 - our ref F0349.

Having the fleur obscuring the letter on the breast created some speculation whether this die was intended for Coventry or York. For a long time, it was generally considered to be a Coventry/London mule by the simple fact that this rose mintmark was never used in York but was used extensively in Coventry. It wasn’t until D. Walker acquired an example that used this obverse die, but before the fleur was added that it became clear this was an E on the breast and therefore intended for York. This was either a die cutters error or it is suggested that there was an intension to open the York mint during the rose initial mark but for whatever reason, didn’t happen. Rather than waste an otherwise good die, it was somewhat obscured with a fleur and used with a number of reverse dies at London.

For further reading see:

D. Walker (1985) ‘Edward IV ‘Coventry/London’ Groats, a Fleur over an E or C?’ Spink Numismatic Circular 93, May 1985, pg 117