It was after the French silver coin had circulated in England that an English groat was first minted under King Edward I.
Scots groats were not issued until the reign of David II. Scots groats were originally also worth fourpence, but later issues were valued at eightpence and a shilling.
Irish groats were minted first in 1425 and the last ones were minted under the reign of Elizabeth I of England. There were also two more issues, both emergency coinage.
While strictly speaking, the English groat should have contained four pennyweights or 96 grains (6.2 grams) of sterling silver, the first ones issued weighed 89 grains (5.8 g) and later issues became progressively lighter. The weight was reduced to 72 grains (three pennyweights or 4.7 g) under Edward III, 60 grains (3.9 g) under Henry IV, and 48 grains (3.1 g) under Edward IV. From 1544 to 1560 (the weight being reduced to 32 grains (2.1 g) in 1559) the silver fineness was less than sterling, and after the 1561 issue they were not generally issued for circulation again for about a hundred years.
From the reigns of Charles II to George III, groats (by now often known as fourpences) were issued on an irregular basis for general circulation, the only years of mintage after 1786 being in 1792, 1795, and 1800. After this the only circulating issues were from 1836 to 1855, with proofs known from 1857 and 1862 and a colonial issue of 1888. These last coins had the weight further reduced to about 27 grains (1.9 grams) and were the same diameter as the silver threepenny pieces of the day although thicker. They also had Britannia on the reverse, while all other silver fourpenny pieces since the reign of William and Mary have had a crowned numeral "4" as the reverse, including the silver fourpenny Maundy money coins of the present. Some groats continued to circulate in Scotland until the 20th century.
At times in the past, silver twopenny coins have been called "half-groats."
The groat ceased to be minted in the United Kingdom in 1856, but in 1888 a special request was made for a colonial variety to be minted for use in British Guiana and the British West Indies. The groat remained in circulation in British Guiana right up until that territory went decimal in 1955. (Article Source: Wikipedia)
Find and buy fine rare groats here at Rare British Coins. See below for some superb groats from all over the UK. Perfect for the groat collecting numismatist.
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 US Open Tennis Center 4ft x 6ft Oil Hall Groat Sr $8,550.00 Time Remaining: 11d 14h 32m Buy It Now for only: $8,550.00 Buy It Now |
 Roberto Clemente Dick Groat Game Used Bat 1960 Pirates $7,500.00 Time Remaining: 27d 3h 45m Buy It Now for only: $7,500.00 Buy It Now |
 Herring Cove Beach Cape Cod 39x78 Hall Groat Sr $5,355.00 Time Remaining: 26d 12h 21m Buy It Now for only: $5,355.00 Buy It Now |
 Capital Building Washington DC 36x60 Hall Groat Sr $4,500.00 Time Remaining: 9d 23h 50m Buy It Now for only: $4,500.00 Buy It Now |
 Hersheys Chocolate MMs 40x30 Oil HALL GROAT II $3,800.00 Time Remaining: 9d 2m Buy It Now for only: $3,800.00 Buy It Now |
 Antique Shop 47x47 acrylic on canvas Hall Groat Sr $3,690.00 Time Remaining: 22d 14h 27m Buy It Now for only: $3,690.00 Buy It Now |
 Pompey New York Countryside 26x48 Hall Groat Sr $3,450.00 Time Remaining: 26d 12h 28m Buy It Now for only: $3,450.00 Buy It Now |
 Chrysler Building New York City 40x30 Original Oil on canvas Hall Groat Sr $3,200.00 Time Remaining: 17d 1h 44m Buy It Now for only: $3,200.00 Buy It Now |
 Burlington Vermont Woodland II 36x47 Hall Groat Sr $3,150.00 Time Remaining: 28d 20h 29m Buy It Now for only: $3,150.00 Buy It Now |
 Neckties 48x35 Acrylic on canvas Hall Groat Sr $3,105.00 Time Remaining: 22d 14h 11m Buy It Now for only: $3,105.00 Buy It Now |
 Syracuse New York Historic 24x72 Oil Hall Groat Sr $3,060.00 Time Remaining: 5d 15h 23m Buy It Now for only: $3,060.00 Buy It Now |
 Erie Canal Historic 24x48 Oil Hall Groat Sr $2,880.00 Time Remaining: 17d 20h 41m Buy It Now for only: $2,880.00 Buy It Now |
 Mount Snow Vermont 47x47 Hall Groat Sr $2,880.00 Time Remaining: 29d 14h 35m Buy It Now for only: $2,880.00 Buy It Now |
 Greenhouse 35x47 acrylic on canvas Hall Groat Sr $2,677.50 Time Remaining: 27d 23h 34m Buy It Now for only: $2,677.50 Buy It Now |
 Opera Night 28 x39 oil on masonite Hall Groat Sr $2,655.00 Time Remaining: 28d 6m Buy It Now for only: $2,655.00 Buy It Now |
 Greenhouse 35x48 acrylic on canvas Hall Groat Sr $2,610.00 Time Remaining: 26d 12h 11m Buy It Now for only: $2,610.00 Buy It Now |
 42 Street New York City Night Scene Original Oil Painting 24x36 HALL GROAT II $2,400.00 Time Remaining: 4d 23h 57m |
 Apple Pickers 35x47 Oil on canvas Hall Groat Sr $2,350.00 Time Remaining: 9d 19h 46m Buy It Now for only: $2,350.00 Buy It Now |
