{{refimprove|date=October 2019}} [[File:Gold leopard coin (FindID 976940-1146042).jpg|thumb|300px|Specimen from the [[British Museum]], which was folded in half when it was discovered in 2019.]] The '''half florin''' (also known as a '''leopard''') was an attempt by English King [[Edward III of England|Edward III]] to produce a [[gold coin]]age suitable for use in Europe as well as in England. The half florin was largely based on contemporary European gold coins, with a value of three shillings (i.e. {{Frac|3|20}} [[pound sterling|pound]]). The gold used to strike the coins was overvalued, resulting in the coins being unacceptable to the public, and the coins were withdrawn after only a few months in circulation. In August 1344 they were melted down to produce the more popular [[Noble (English coin)|noble]]. Few specimens have survived of what is often regarded as one of the most beautiful medieval English coins ever produced.<ref>Spink, Coins of England and the United Kingdom. 46th edition standard catalogue of British coins, 2011.</ref>
The obverse of the coin shows a [[leopard (heraldry)|leopard]] with a cloak of the royal arms; the legend is <small>EDWAR D GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC DNS HIB</small> ("Edward, [[by the Grace of God]] King of England and France, [[Lord of Ireland]]"). The reverse of the coin shows the Royal cross within a [[quatrefoil]], a leopard in each quarter; the legend is <small>DOMINE NE IN FURORE TUO ARGUAS ME</small> ("O Lord, rebuke me not in Thy anger", from [[Psalm 6]]).
Only five examples are known to survive. In 2019, experts announced the discovery of an example from [[Reepham, Norfolk]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Museum|first=The British|last2=Street|first2=Great Russell|last3=T: +4420 73238618|first3=London WC1B 3DG|title=Record ID: NMS-30E3B9 - MEDIEVAL coin hoard|url=http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/976940|access-date=2022-02-12|website=The Portable Antiquities Scheme|language=en}}</ref> This same coin was announced for auction in March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Anderson|first=Stuart|date=2022-02-03|title=Rare gold coin from north Norfolk could fetch £140,000|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/lifestyle/heritage/north-norfolk-gold-leopard-florin-auction-8665500|access-date=2022-02-12|website=Eastern Daily Press|language=en-UK}}</ref> It sold for £140,000.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shoaib |first1=Alia |title=A rare 14th century 'leopard' coin worth $185,000 was found by an amateur metal detectorist in a field. 'I did the gold dance,' he said. |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/england-leopard-gold-coin-worth-185000-found-by-metal-detectorist-2022-3 |access-date=14 July 2022 |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=12 March 2022}}</ref>
==References== {{Portal|Money}} {{reflist}} {{Coins of England}}
[[Category:English gold coins]]
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