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The Brackley Hoard of Silver Groats from the War of the Roses

H4450 - Henry VI, First Reign (1422-1461), Groat, 3.70g., Rosette-mascle issue (1427-30), Calais mint, mm Cross Fleury / Plain Cross, HENRIC' DI' GRA' REX ANGLIE Z FRANC, crowned facing bust, rosette and mascle stops, rev., VIL (mascle)LA: CALI SIE(rosette), long cross pattée; three pellets in angles, rosette and double saltire stops (Whitton 26a; N.1446; S.1859), good very fine. $395 SOLD

 
Edinburgh Newcastle Chester Dublin Lincoln Norwich Canterbury Bristol Exeter Southampton Mint present in hoard: York Mint present in hoard: London Mint present in hoard: Calais Brackley, Northamptonshire, England Battle of Towton, 1461 Battle of Wakefield, 1460 Battle of Mortimer's Cross, 1461 Battle of Northampton, 1460 Battles of St. Albans, 1455 & 1461 Battle of Barnet, 1471 Battle of Edgcote, 1469 Battle of Tewkesbury, 1471

Interactive map with hoard location, mints and battles of the War of the Roses

Discovered in 2005 with the aid of a metal detector in the vicinity of Brackley, Northampton, England, the hoard perhaps originally contained in a cloth bag had been dispersed in the field by the plough. It of consisted of 322 silver groats of Edward III (1327-77), Henry V (1413-1422), Henry VI 1st reign (1422-61), Edward IV, 1st reign (1461-70) and two Scottish Groats of Robert III (1390-1406) and James II (1437-1460). The majority of the hoard were issues of Henry VI and Edward IV with a date of deposition of 1465 of shortly thereafter.

The exact location has been kept secret but it believed to be near a deserted medieval village and would perhaps best reflect the savings or disposable wealth of a yeoman farmer. The contemporary value of £5 7s 4d being equivalent to c.$10,000 or £6,500 today. Another equivalent would be to a flock of sheep, with a groat of 4d being the contemporary value of a sheep, therefore 324 sheep.

The hoard was reported to and recorded with the help of the local museum, before being fully identified by the British Museum and declared Treasure. Fourteen coins purchased by the British Museum, a number kept by the finders and the rest sold at auction in December, 2009 by London auctioneers Morton and Eden.