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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Pre Treaty

French title

Shield in tressure / Royal Cross in tressure.

mm. cross

S1498; 20mm, 1.93g

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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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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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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.

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Group E

mm. triangle

Tower under king

S2816; 25mm, 2.86g

This coin comes with previous collectors handwritten label

Born the second son of James I Charles became heir upon the death of his elder brother Henry in AD 1612. After an unsuccessful attempt to marry him to the Infanta of Spain Charles married the Catholic Henrietta Maria of France in AD 1625. Charles strongly believed in the divine right of kings and upon his accension to the throne in AD 1625 it was not long before he quarrelled with Parliament which tried to curb his powers. This caused increasing unrest at his attempts to raise taxes without Parliamentary consent. There was uneasiness with his religious policies in part due to his marriage to a Catholic queen. He also quarrelled with the Scottish bishops and eventually both the Scottish and English Parliaments rebelled starting the Civil War.
Having been defeated by armies raised by Parliament Charles eventually fled from Oxford to the north where he was captured by the Scots who handed him over to the Long Parliament in London. Refusing to accept a Constitutional monarchy Charles escaped to the Isle of Wight. Charles attempted to reassert his control but was defeated by the Parliamentarians under Cromwell who had him brought back to London and tried. This time Charles was sentenced to death and was executed in Whitehall in January AD 1649. This instigated the Commonwealth when the country was ruled as a Republic until Charles II was restored as king in AD 1660.
The reign of Charles I is one of the most interesting numismatically. Not only were many provincial mints set up, particularly during the Civil War period, some outstanding machine- made coins were produced both in England and Scotland under Nicholas Briot.

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mm. boars head

London

S2156; 25mm, 3.05g

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Richard III was the younger brother of Edward IV and one of the principal Yorkists during the War of the Roses. Created Duke of Gloucester when Edward became king he was an able administrator and was responsible for governing much of northern England during the reign of his brother. When Edward died suddenly in AD 1483 Richard was nominated Lord Protector. Conflict with the Woodvilles resulted in Richard imprisoning the two sons of Edward IV in the Tower. When a bishop then declared that the princes were illegitimate Richard claimed the throne and was crowned in place of Edward V in July AD 1483.
A rebellion by the Duke of Buckingham in the autumn of AD 1483 was quickly put down however in the summer of AD 1485 Henry Tudor landed in Wales with an army raised in France. The 2 armies met at Bosworth Fields where Richard was defeated and killed. Richard’s body has recently been found beneath a car park and has now been reburied in Leicester Cathedral. Richard was the last English king to be killed in battle and is also the last of the last of the Plantagenets.

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New neat bust , no marks, Class G

London Mint

S1781; 16mm, 0.89g

Henry V is perhaps England’s most famous warrior king and was immortalised by Shakespeare for his victory over the French at Agincourt. Henry as Duke of Monmouth was increasingly involved in the affairs of state as his father Henry IV became increasingly ill from about the middle of his reign. As a young man Henry V was injured by an arrow at the Battle of Shrewsbury and all his subsequent portraits show only the left side of his face.

Civil Wars in France gave Henry IV the chance to re ignite the Hundred Years war and 2 expeditions were launched against France in AD 1411/1412. In AD 1415 Henry led another expedition to France capturing Harfleur. Against advice he decided to march back to Calais. It was on St Crispin’s Day, 25th October that he came up against the much larger French army. Deciding on battle he succeeded in routing the French force and winning one of the most famous victories in England’s history.

Returning for a second campaign he stormed across northern France capturing Rouen in AD 1419 and eventually Paris. Peace was negotiated at the Treaty of Troyes in AD 1420 whereby Henry was recognised as King of France after the death of the French king Charles VI. Unfortunately Henry died suddenly in AD 1422 shortly before Charles VI and before he could be crowned in Paris.

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Half length figures of Virgin Mary and angel Gabriel, AVE on scroll in between/Latin cross

mm. root, Le Mans

S1864; 27mm, 3.41g

A very well balanced example, even strike throughout with no weak areas, good detail to figures.

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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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HIB Legend

Laureate bust left / Crowned shield, Lettered edge

S3227A; 33mm, 14.87g

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Indirectly descended from Henry VIII chief minister Thomas Cromwell, Oliver Cromwell was born in AD 1599 to a landowning family from Huntingdon. He entered Parliament in AD 1628 and initially he did not oppose King Charles although he was leading campaigner against the king’s bishops and their lack of religious toleration. When the Civil War started Cromwell’s ability as a leader and organiser led to his rapid promotion with the creation of the New Model army which became known as Roundheads by their opponents. This army started to triumph over the king’s forces after several lacklustre campaigns at the start of the campaign. By keeping control of London and the main sources of finance the Royalist forces were eventually forced to sue for peace.
King Charles though managed to escape and tried to reclaim his kingdom by raising fresh forces in Scotland. Defeated again he was brought back to London where he was tried and executed in AD 1649. The monarchy was abolished and initially the country was governed as a Republic under the Commonwealth. Rivalries however forced Cromwell to take over as Lord Protector in AD 1653. Although invited to become king Cromwell refused although many of the trappings of royalty were reinstated including Cromwell draped and laureate bust which appeared on milled coins minted that were minted between AD 1656 and 1658.
Cromwell’s campaigns against the Scots and particularly the Irish are well known. There were also a number of naval campaigns against the Dutch and Spanish which saw the resurgence of the Royal Navy and beginnings of what was to become the British Empire.

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