England · Richard III (1483–1485)

England Halfpenny — Richard III, Sun-and-Rose Issue (1483–1485)

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About this coin

London halfpennies with the halved sun-and-rose mark occur both plain below the bust and with a small pellet.

Obverse

A crowned head faces forward within the royal inscription. The space below the bust is plain or contains a pellet.

Script: Latin

Lettering

RICARD DI GRA REX

Translation

Richard, by the grace of God, King.

Reverse

A long cross divides the London name and four groups of three pellets.

Script: Latin

Lettering

CIVI TAS LON DON

Translation

City of London.

Mints and mintmarks

Tower mint, London.

Engraver and mintmaster marks

Halved sun and rose on obverse; pellet below bust on one variety.

Identification and varieties

The pellet-bust variety is supported by two matching obverse dies, one on a damaged coin and the other preserving the pellet clearly. The initial mark on the clearer example is a sun-and-rose; the evidence is not used to invent a separate numbered punch variety.

Measurements

The plain-bust specimen weighs 0.41 g. A separate plain-bust specimen measures 12 mm and weighs 0.35 g. The pellet-bust specimens weigh 0.27 g and 0.31 g.

Years, mintmarks and variants

Tap an issue for details and places to find it.

YearMintMintmarkVariantMintageNotesFind this issue
ND (1483–1485)London (Tower)Halved sun and rose 2 / nonePlain below bust
ND (1483–1485)London (Tower)Halved sun and rosePellet below bustTwo die-linked examples, 0.27 g and 0.31 g.
ND (1483–1485)London (Tower) · Halved sun and rose 2 / nonePlain below bust
ND (1483–1485)London (Tower) · Halved sun and rosePellet below bust

Two die-linked examples, 0.27 g and 0.31 g.

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