How to Identify the Groat (Fourpence)

What It Is

The Groat, worth four pence, was an important English and later British silver coin dating back to the medieval period, with the name derived from the French "gros" (large) since it was once a comparatively substantial coin. Its role in general circulation faded over time, and it was last struck for ordinary circulation in the mid-1850s, though a related fourpence piece continued afterward as part of the annual Maundy money set.

Obverse Design and Inscriptions

Obverse designs varied enormously across the centuries the groat was produced, generally showing a profile or facing portrait of the reigning monarch along with a Latin royal title. Later 19th-century groats show a more conventional profile bust similar in style to other silver coinage of the period.

Reverse Design and Inscriptions

Reverse designs also varied by era, ranging from long crosses and shields in medieval issues to a crowned numeral "4" on 19th-century circulating groats, clearly marking the coin's value in pence.

Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge

Groat sizes shifted over the centuries as silver content and minting standards changed, but 19th-century circulating groats measure roughly 16-18 mm in diameter and weigh around 1.9 grams, struck in sterling silver (92.5% fine). Earlier medieval groats can differ notably in size and weight from these later issues, so comparing a specific coin against references for its actual era is important.

Mint Marks and Where to Find Them

Medieval and early modern groats sometimes carry small privy marks or mint marks specific to the ecclesiastical or royal mint that produced them, often near the top of the design. Later 19th-century groats, struck at the Royal Mint in London, generally carry no separate mint mark.

Telling It Apart From Similar Coins

Because the groat's size and weight overlapped with other small silver coins across different periods, correctly identifying a specific groat requires matching its portrait style, inscription, and reverse design to the known coinage of a specific monarch's reign, rather than relying on size alone. The 19th-century crowned "4" design is the clearest identifier for circulating groats of that era, distinguishing them at a glance from the undenominated threepence of the same period.

Judging Condition at a Glance

On the numeral-reverse groat, check that the crown and numeral remain sharply defined, since these are the highest points and wear first. On earlier cross-and-shield designs, look at the fine lines within the shields or cross arms.

Authenticity Red Flags

Given the groat's long and varied history, be especially cautious of coins with a portrait or lettering style that does not match the claimed monarch's known coinage, or with a weight and diameter inconsistent with genuine examples from that specific period. Because the coin is thin and small, heavily worn or clipped examples (where metal has been shaved from the edge, a historic form of currency fraud) are also worth checking for by confirming the coin is reasonably round and full-sized.