Thoughts please

[Rob]

I think this James I half groat with the spur rowel mark is over saltire on the reverse with sufficient messiness to possibly be over plain cross too. The obverse mark which is a clear spur rowel is included for comparison. Although no silver is known for saltire due to the fact that no bullion was brought into the mint in this period (according to mint records), the dies would undoubtedly have been made in preparation for the changeover from plain cross to saltire. Because there was so little bullion brought to the mint for coining in the period 1615-1620 due to the market value being above face, the dies from the previous mark were usually recut with the new mark. Small change is known with plain cross over book on lectern and spur rowel is known overmarked with 2 pellets. An educated guess would suggest that plain cross over crescent could also turn up on silver. Does anyone have any pennies or half groats for this period to compare? All opinions welcomed.

[£400 for a Penny ?]

Looks and sounds eminently plausible...

[Colin G.]

Looks like a Lion passant underneath to me, but it would be facing the wrong way

[Rob]

Sorted in my own mind - I think. The second issue half groats have stops in the reverse legend, the 3rd issue doesn't. So it looks like a 2nd issue reverse die with the mark overcut. So with the highest point in the relief being a saltire, that is what was filled. The multiple cuts of the spur rowel off centre and to a lower depth are probably due to the die having been hardened previously.