Is this Elizabeth I groat OK?

[Et tu Brute]

Hi to all, I'm new in this forum. Sorry for my bad English.

I have a little experience with greek and roman coins, but am an absolute beginner with British. As a fan of the works of Shakespeare, I'm very interested in elizabethan coinage. I have a penny, and have purchased a shilling on a reputable seller.

But I think that perhaps I have committed a mistake; I have just purchased on ebay a groat without further research, and I fear that the coin can be fake, because the seller has some suspicious roman coins. I attach the seller's photo. According to description, weights 0'9g. (can be a mistake, that can't be a groat) and measures 17mm.

I would really appreciate any comment about the coin. When I receive it, I can post more pictures. Thanks

[Paulus]

Welcome Et Tu!

If genuine, that is a half groat - the 2 pellets to the right of the bust denote two pence (half a groat)

My guess is that it is a low grade genuine example of a half groat 

 

[jelida]

Looks like a nice coin to me, but a halfgroat rather than a groat, and I think it might be mm bell with the two dots (behind the bust, signifying value) overstruck on two I's, which makes it a rare variety. However I am not a hammie expert, so do get another opinion!

good luck,

Jerry

[Et tu Brute]

Thank you for your answer!

Happy to hear that, I wish it were at least a genuine half groat, a coin that I want to own too. When received, I will post more details, the two dots/I's look interesting.

Now I can search for a true groat.

I really appreciate your help, thanks!

[Et tu Brute]

This is it. I think the coin is OK. Any chance to know date and mint?

Best regards

 

[Rob]

There is only one mint - Tower. The bell dates it to 1582-3

[Et tu Brute]

I really appreciate your answer! So, minted during Shakespeare's lifetime.

Any book/s to start with elizabethan coinage?

Best regards

[Rob]

Best reference without question is The Hammered Silver Coins Producced at the Tower Mint during the reign of Elizabeth I by Brown, Comber & Wilkinson. You can get copies from Galata (they published it). There are other articles dotted around in the BNJ.

[Et tu Brute]

Once again, thank you very much. I'll check the book/articles.

Best regards

[jelida]

It definately looks like pellets over 1's,  looks a good find to me, scarcer than the standard issue I believe, any of you hammie guys confirm this?

Jerry

[Et tu Brute]

Looks very interesting... Clearly there are two pellets and two II. I would appreciate any comment.

[Rob]

Yes it is as described. I thought Jerry had covered that in his initial post.

[Guest anyone know what this is?]

hi anyone know what this is ?

 

 

[Guest anyone know what this is?]

other side sorry

[Paddy]

That screams replica at me. Copy of an Elizabeth I Half groat.

[Sword]

The portrait looks like a man ...

[Unwilling Numismatist]

1 hour ago, Guest anyone know what this is? said:

hi anyone know what this is ?

 

About 2 dollars on Aliexpress i would imgine.

[Paddy]

33 minutes ago, Unwilling Numismatist said:

About 2 dollars on Aliexpress i would imgine.

Not good enough for Aliexpress - that one is not even designed to deceive!

[Rob]

It looks like a Charles I Briot milled 2d that now answers to the name Elizabeth........ darling

[DrP]

I agree it does look like Charles 1st. It does say Elizabeth too. I'm no expert but I would guess at a copy also. There is no wear or clipping an it looks a funny colour. 

 

I do like the portrait on the coin in the OP though. ;-) 

Edited June 21, 2018 by DrP

[Ukstu]

Ugg. Definitely moody that. Terrible replica if you can call it that. 

[Unwilling Numismatist]

Even Aldi would do a better looky-likey than that!

[Coinery]

Only just picked up this post, but the original half groat was actually a much rarer 2 pellets over I I mark of value.