Portcullis / Cross with pellet in each angle

London

S2362; 7mm, 0.14g

An exceptional example, crisp detail and little, if any wear.

This coin comes with a rough find area provenance.

Henry VIII was the second son of Henry VII and before becoming king had considered an ecclesiastical career. He is largely remembered for his break with Rome, the dissolution of the monasteries and for having 6 wives. He is also remembered for his de basement of the currency which helped finance his wars with France and Scotland. By the time of the 3rd Issue some of the coinage contained so little silver that the copper alloy underneath was revealed. This earnt Henry the nickname Old Coppernose.

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Crowned bust facing, 5 pearls to crown/Short Cross

London / Raul

S1346

19mm, 1.31g

Shortly before Henry II died Richard had rebelled and defeated Henry at the Battle of Anjou. As Henry’s third son Richard had not expected to become king but as both his older brothers had died Richard was to be crowned in Westminster Abbey. Known primarily as a warrior king Richard was to leave England to join the Crusades in the Holy Land. Richard was to occupy both Sicily and Cyprus before joining in the siege at Acre in AD 1191. He was rarely to return to England however on his way back in AD 1192 Richard was to be shipwrecked and captured whilst taking an overland route near Vienna. Held to ransom by the Holy Roman Emperor Richard was eventually to be freed when the ransom was paid.
Whilst Richard had been absent his younger brother John had rebelled. It is during this period that the legend of Robin Hood, a supporter of Richard, and the Sherrif of Nottingham, a supporter of John was born. When Richard returned to England he forgave John and named him as his successor. He also started to reclaim his lost lands in Normandy and made war on the French. Whilst campaigning in Limousin in March 1199 Richard was struck by a bolt from a crossbow. The wound proved fatal and Richard died shortly afterwards.
Whilst there are no English coins bearing Richard’s name there were a number of Anglo Gallic coins issued in his name.

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Shield in tressure/ Royal Cross in tressure

Cross over shield

S1674; 18mm, 1.84g

Field damage to the reverse, an affordable example of a Medieval gold coin.

Richard II was the son of the Black Prince and grandson of Edward III. The Black Prince died the year before his father and so Richard who was next in line succeeded to the throne, aged 10, upon the death of his grandfather in AD 1377. Until Richard came of age his uncle John of Gaunt became the effective Regent.

One of Richards first challenges was the Peasants Revolt of AD 1381. This was brought about by the high level of taxation and in particular a Poll Tax which was levied to help pay for the war with France. The Black Death thirty years earlier had decimated the population thereby leading to a severe shortage of serfs. One of the Peasants demands was that serfdom be abolished. When the revolt reached London John of Gaunt’s palace was burnt down and the Bishop of London was killed. Richard rode out to meet the leaders of the Revolt at Blackheath. Here the leader of the peasants, Wat Tyler, was pulled from his horse and killed. Richard showing presence of mind addressed the peasants directly telling them that he agreed to act upon their grievances. Although the revolt then petered out the charters to which Richard had agreed were not acted upon.

Richard was considerably less war like than his father and grandfather. Richard tried to stop the war with France. Although he failed in stopping the war there was effectively a truce. An expedition he led to Ireland was however successful in securing the support of the Irish nobles.

Richard tried to reduce the power of the aristocracy but this resulted in their revolt and the setting up of the Lords Appellant. Although Richard regained control when he took his revenge by killing or exiling the Lords who had revolted the son of John of Gaunt, Henry Bolingbroke returned with an army which landed in Wales. Rather than fight Richard agreed to abdicate and was then taken back to London as captive. Although Henry had agreed to spare Richard’s life when a plot was discovered to have Richard reinstated Henry had Richard moved to Pontefract Castle where he is believed to have been starved to death early in AD 1400.

Although Shakespeare describes Richard as being weak and vindictive he was in fact intelligent and a patron of the arts as well as of architecture. It was during Richards reign that Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were written.

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Pre Treaty Period

Shield in tressure with cross in circle over/Royal Cross in tressure

Omits French titles

Calais

S1513; 18mm, 1.76g

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Son of Edward II, Edward III is another great warrior king of The Middle Ages and is most famous for his campaigns in France and the great English victories at Sluys, Crecy and Poitiers at the start of the Hundred Years War. A campaign against the Scots at the start of his reign was unsuccessful however when Edward dismissed his chief minister, Roger Mortimer, he agreed a truce before taking up arms against France. The English won a naval victory at Sluys in AD 1340 which gave them control of the Channel. Landing an army in France Edward beat the French at Crecy capturing Calais. Ten years later his son Edward, The Black Prince, won an impressive victory at Poitiers thanks in part to the effectiveness of the English longbows. The Treaty of Bretigny in AD 1360 granted Edward additional territory in France although he also renounced his claim to the French throne. There was then a lull in the war and as Edward became older he became more lethargic leaving most of the campaigning to his sons
Edward’s reign saw the devastation of England’s population as well as those of most other European countries. Edward instigated various Legal reforms but is better known for his creation of various orders of chivalry which include the Order of the Garter. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were also written towards the end of his reign.
The Groat was reintroduced during Edward’s reign together the first issue of gold coinage. Firstly the florin or leopard followed by the noble. In Ireland there was a small issue of silver halfpennies however there was a large issue of Anglo Gallic coins both in Edward’s name and also his son the Black Prince.

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7th Issue AD 1594

Bare head in armour right/ Crowned thistle

S5493; 5.80g; 31mm

The son of Mary Queen of Scots, James acceded the Scottish throne as James VI when only 1 year old upon his mother’s abdication in AD 1567. He married Anne of Denmark and upon the death of the childless Elizabeth succeeded the English throne in AD 1603 being the nearest heir. Following the Gunpowder plot of AD 1605 James brought in severe sanctions against Catholics and also introduced the King James Bible. Scotland remained a separate kingdom and retained its own currency James established a currency of similar weight and fineness in both realms although a 12:1 ratio between Scottish and English denominations was maintained.

The reign saw a number of reforms in the English coinage most notably the introduction of the gold Unite, itself replaced in AD 1619 by the Laurel. Copper coins were also issued for the first time when a licence was issued to Lord Harrington to issue farthings.

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Class 10 CF5

Crowned bust facing/Long Cross

London

S1414; 18mm, 1.38g

Edward was one of the great warrior kings of the Middle Ages. Also known as Longshanks on account of his height and as the Hammer of the Scots he initially rebelled against his father, Henry III, but was loyal during the Barons war. Captured by the barons he quickly escaped and defeated and killed the baron’s leader Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham in AD 1265. Effectively acting as Regent for the remainder of Henry’s reign Edward away on a Crusade when Henry died in AD 1272. During the early part of his reign he campaigned against the Welsh eventually conquering the country and installing his son, Edward II, as Prince of Wales. Many of the castles in Wales and the borders were built by Edward to help garrison the country.
Initially Edwards relations with Scotland were amical however after the death of Alexander III there was a crisis of succession. When John Balliol was eventually chosen to succeed his refusal accept Edward as overlord or to provide troops for Edwards campaign against France resulted in Edward’s invasion of Scotland in AD 1296. He beat the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar and captured Berwick upon Tweed. John Balliol was deposed and Edward also removed Scottish Coronation stone from Scone and took it back to Westminster.
The following year the Scots under William Wallace defeated the English. Edward returned to Scotland and eventually succeeded in capturing Wallace who was transported back to London where he was hung, drawn and quartered. The Scots then rallied under Robert the Bruce. Edward was on his way back to Scotland when he died near Carlisle.
Edward was instrumental in the establishment of Parliament and also for carrying out various Legal reforms. He also is known for his persecution of the English Jews and their eventual expulsion in AD 1290 following a long running dispute with the church.
During Edwards reign the great recoinage of AD 1279 saw Short Cross pennies being replaced by the Long Cross Penny in an attempt to prevent coins from being clipped. Silver Halfpennies and Farthings were introduced for the first time as well as a Silver Groat although in the case the groat the issue was soon withdrawn. There were also coin issues minted in Ireland whilst Edward was king and also Lord of Ireland prior to his accession. In the Anglo Gallic series coins in Edwards name were issued in both Aquitaine and Ponthieu.

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Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Annulet / Rosette mascle issue

Calais Mint

S1836/1859; 25mm, 3.79g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

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Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Rosette/ Pinecone mascle issue

London Mint

S1858/1874; 26mm, 3.99g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

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Short Cross type

Crowned bust facing/Voided Short Cross

London / Henri

18mm, 1.34g

Henry was only 9 years old when he became king and initially there was a Regency with William Marshall effectively in charge. After an unsuccessful attempt of invasion by the French in AD 1217 was defeated off Sandwich and eventually peace was restored when the treaty of Lambeth was signed. An agreement was also reached with the Barons.
William Marshall died in AD 1219 and was succeeded by Hubert De Burgh. When Henry assumed full control in AD 1227 Hubert De Burgh was retained as chief minister. In AD 1230 a new war broke out when Henry tried to reclaim his lost territories in France. This campaign achieved nothing.
At home Henry maintained peace with Scotland and in Wales his position was strengthened by the construction of many new castles. Revenues received from Ireland were also important and many new estates were also granted to supporters. In AD 1254 Henry’s son Edward was created Lord of Ireland. English influence in Ireland was at a peak for the Medieval period.
In AD 1258 Barons revolted again mainly over Henry’s style of government. Led by Simon De Montfort the barons attempted instigate reforms at the Provisions of Oxford however neither side was able to establish complete control. Eventually Civil War broke out and Henry was defeated at the Battle of Lewes in AD 1264 and was captured. His son, Edward then raised a new army and defeated the rebels at the Battle of Evesham where De Montfort was killed. Henry was released and took revenge sequestering many of the rebel’s land. He did however agree to a number of reforms which limited the power of some Royal officials. Henry became increasingly infirmed and his son Edward effectively ruled for the remainder of his reign.
Henry carried out a number of reforms to the coinage. In England the Short Cross penny was replaced by the Long Cross penny to discourage clipping. The number of mints was also reduced and he also introduced a Gold Penny although this was not successful and was rapidly withdrawn. In Ireland and also in the Anglo Gallic series there were also a number of issues.

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Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat 1st reign

Mule Rosette/ Pinecone mascle issue

London Mint

S1858/1874; 27mm, 3.89g

Comes with previous collectors ticket

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

The post Henry VI AD 1422-1461 Silver Groat London The Reigate Hoard appeared first on Silbury Coins.