The Groat: A Coin with a Royal Pedigree
Imagine this: you’re out in a soggy field, your trusty detector swinging back and forth, when suddenly – ping! You’ve just unearthed a small silver coin. But it’s not your run-of-the-mill penny or shilling – it’s a groat. These little beauties have a history stretching back to the 13th century, and let me tell you, they’ve got some stories to tell.
The groat first popped onto the scene in 1279, during the reign of Edward I. Old Eddie was a busy boy, reorganizing the English currency system, and he thought, “Why not introduce a coin worth four pennies?” And just like that, the groat was born. The name comes from the Dutch “groot,” meaning “great” or “big,” which is a bit of a laugh considering how tiny these coins are when you fish them out of the dirt.
Now, despite Eddie’s bright idea, the groat didn’t really take off at first. It was more of a commemorative piece, not used much in everyday transactions. It wasn’t until Edward III came along in 1351 that the groat became a regular part of the currency. He started minting them in large numbers, and soon enough, everyone and their dog was using groats to buy their daily bread and ale.
The medieval groat was a proper chunk of silver, weighing in at around 60 grains (3.9 grams). That’s a fair bit of silver to find in your scoop! These early groats often featured a crowned bust of the king on the obverse and a long cross with pellets on the reverse. If you’re lucky enough to find one of these, you’ve got a real piece of medieval history in your hands.
Groats Through the Ages: From Tudors to Stuarts
As you’re out there detecting, you might come across groats from different periods, each with its own unique design. The Tudors, always ones for a bit of showing off, made some particularly fancy groats. Henry VII, that crafty old fox, put his own portrait on the coins – talk about an ego trip! These Tudor groats are a real treat to find, with their intricate designs and that unmistakable glint of silver in the soil.
Henry VIII continued the tradition, but with a twist. As he got older (and wider), the portraits on his groats changed to reflect his increasing girth. It’s like a numismatic timeline of Henry’s waistline! His successors, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, all minted their own groats, each with their distinct style. An Elizabeth I groat, with her iconic portrait, is a real prize for any detectorist.
The groat continued to be an important part of English currency throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. During this time, you’d see the heads of monarchs like James I and Charles I gracing these little silver discs. Each change in monarch brought a new design, which is great news for us detectorists – it helps us date our finds and imagine the hands they passed through centuries ago.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the groat. As with any currency, it had its ups and downs. Inflation was a constant battle, and by the time the Stuarts rolled around, the groat was starting to lose its shine. The English Civil War in the 1640s caused particular chaos for the currency, with both Royalists and Parliamentarians minting their own coins. Imagine finding a Civil War era groat – you’d be holding a piece of one of the most turbulent times in English history!
The Georgian Era: A Time of Change for the Groat
After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the groat entered a new phase. Under Charles II, the minting of groats for general circulation became less common, but they were still produced as part of the Maundy money set. This tradition, where the monarch distributes special silver coins to the poor on Maundy Thursday, continues to this day.
During the reigns of William and Mary, Anne, and the early Georgians, groats continued to be minted primarily for Maundy money. These coins are a bit different from their circulating predecessors – they’re usually in better condition (less likely to have been dropped in a muddy field!) and have a distinct design.
But here’s where it gets interesting for us detectorists. In 1786, during the reign of George III, the groat made a comeback in general circulation. The government, in its infinite wisdom, decided that a four-penny piece might be useful again. These late 18th-century groats are a rare find indeed – if you unearth one of these, you’ve hit the detectorist’s equivalent of the jackpot!
The return of the groat wasn’t just a flash in the pan. It continued to be minted under George IV and William IV, albeit in smaller numbers. These Georgian and early Victorian groats are fascinating finds, bridging the gap between the old silver coins of the past and the more modern currency that was to come.
The Victorian Groat: The Last Hurrah
Now, here’s where the groat’s story really heats up for us modern-day treasure hunters. The groat continued to be produced for general circulation right up until 1855, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Imagine finding a Victorian groat out in the fields – it’s like holding a piece of the Industrial Revolution in your hand!
These Victorian groats are a sight to behold. On one side, you’ve got the young Queen Victoria herself, looking all regal and proper. Flip it over, and there’s Britannia in all her glory, seated and looking out to sea. It’s a beautiful design, and one that any detectorist would be chuffed to bits to unearth.
The Victorian era brought some changes to the groat. In 1838, the composition was changed from sterling silver to a silver alloy, and in 1848, it switched to a copper-nickel alloy. This means that Victorian groats can vary in appearance – some might have that lovely silver sheen, while others might have a more coppery tinge. Either way, they’re a fantastic find!
But here’s where the groat’s story takes an interesting turn. After 1855, the groat didn’t disappear entirely. Oh no, it just got a bit more exclusive. From 1856 onwards, groats were only produced as Maundy money. Now, if you’re lucky enough to stumble upon one of these post-1855 groats, you’ll notice a key difference – instead of Britannia, you’ll see a big “4d” on the reverse. That’s your clue that you’ve found a piece of Maundy money, used in the traditional royal ceremony of almsgiving.
The Legacy of the Groat: A Detectorist’s Dream
For us detectorists, this extended lifespan of the groat is like Christmas come early. It means there are potentially more groats out there in the soil, just waiting to be discovered. And let’s face it, there’s something special about finding a coin that was in circulation during the reign of Queen Victoria. It’s a tangible link to an era of massive change and progress in Britain.
When you’re out in the fields, keep in mind that any groat you find could be from any point in its long history – from Edward I all the way up to Victoria. And if you’re really lucky, you might even stumble upon a Maundy groat. Just remember, if you see that “4d” instead of Britannia, you’ve got something really special on your hands.
Finding a groat nowadays is like hitting the jackpot. They’re not as common as some other coins, which makes unearthing one all the more thrilling. Whether it’s a medieval example from Edward III, a Tudor groat bearing the stern visage of Henry VIII, a Georgian piece from the groat’s revival, or a Victorian coin with Britannia seated proudly, each one is a tangible piece of history, a direct link to the people who lived, worked, and traded on the very land we search today.
The groat’s journey through English history is a fascinating one. From its beginnings as a medieval silver coin, through the turbulent Tudor and Stuart periods, its quiet years in the early Georgian era, its revival in the late 18th century, and finally its last hurrah under Victoria, the groat has seen it all. Each groat you find is like a little time capsule, carrying with it the stories of the people who used it and the times they lived in.
So, next time you’re out there swinging your detector, keep an ear out for that special signal that might just be a groat. And when you dig it up, take a moment to really look at it. Think about the hands it passed through, the goods it bought, the history it witnessed. That’s the real thrill of metal detecting – not just finding treasure, but connecting with the past in a way that few others can.
So, let’s strap on our wellies, grab our detectors, and get out there. Who knows? The next swing could unearth a groat that’s been waiting centuries to tell its story. And isn’t that what makes this hobby of ours so bloomin’ fantastic?
