Groat

Groat (Old Low German grote, meaning great), a name given in the middle ages to all thick coins, as distinguished from the 'bracteates' or thin coins of silver or gold-leaf stamped so as to be hollow on one side and raised on the other. The silver groat current in England (introduced by Edward III.) was equal to four pence. The coin—not the name—was revived (1836–56) in the modern fourpenny-piece. Groschen, the German equivalent of groats, were till 1873–76 current in the north of Germany, and equal in value to $\backslash frac\{1\}\{30\}$th of a thaler, worth 1$\backslash frac\{1\}\{3\}$d. or 2$\backslash frac\{1\}\{2\}$ cents United States currency.