England: Henry VIII (1509-47), AR Groat, Second coinage (1526-44), S. 2337B

[Overlord]

England: House of Tudor, Henry VIII (1509-47), AR Groat, Second coinage (1526-44), London mint, Spink 2337E

Obverse: Crowned and draped bust of King Henry VIII facing right, legend around ҺЄnRIC' × VIII' × D' × G' × R' × ΛGL' × Z × FRΛnC' (Henry the Eighth by the Grace of God King of England and France)
Reverse: Quartered shield of arms over long cross fourchée, saltire in each fork; POSVI DЄV' × Λ DIVTO Є' mЄV' (I have made God my helper)

[Figleaf]

Nice to see that the face still has detail. I like the medieval aspect of the design, with traces of naturalism in the face

The second issue was still good silver. It seems that someone stuck a small dagger in your coin to test the silver content. I had heard of this "test", but hadn't seen a coin it was practiced on, so I was sceptical (like I still am on biting a gold coin; I haven't seen any gold coins with tooth marks). I suppose if you do the dagger test often enough with the same knife you get a feeling for how much resistance the metal of a good silver coin offers, but it still seems crude.

Peter

[Overlord]

Nice to see that the face still has detail. I like the medieval aspect of the design, with traces of naturalism in the face

The second issue was still good silver. It seems that someone stuck a small dagger in your coin to test the silver content. I had heard of this "test", but hadn't seen a coin it was practiced on, so I was sceptical (like I still am on biting a gold coin; I haven't seen any gold coins with tooth marks). I suppose if you do the dagger test often enough with the same knife you get a feeling for how much resistance the metal of a good silver coin offers, but it still seems crude.

Peter

I like to imagine the gash was made by one of the unfortunate wives, Wolsey, Cromwell, or even Robert Aske, as they waited in the tower for their head to be chopped off...

[Figleaf]

Scrap Aske from the list. He was hung in chains. Henry was not a nice guy.

Peter

[Overlord]

Scrap Aske from the list. He was hung in chains. Henry was not a nice guy.

Peter

Ah, I forgot. Its been I while since I watched The Tudors.

[andyg]

Scrap Aske from the list. He was hung in chains. Henry was not a nice guy.

Peter

Scratching this coin could have been the reason he was in the chains? 

Nice portrait on this one - always key I think.  So often a weak strike combined with wear = invisible portrait. I'd much sooner have a portrait with a scratch than an invisible one.

[malj1]

Scratching this coin could have been the reason he was in the chains? 

Nice portrait on this one - always key I think.  So often a weak strike combined with wear = invisible portrait. I'd much sooner have a portrait with a scratch than an invisible one.

Scratching the face tested whether they were silver plated with copper underneath:

"The thin layer of silver on coins often wore off where the King's nose appeared, revealing the cheaper copper beneath. This prompted Henry's subject to give him the less than complimentary nickname of 'Old Coppernose'."
Source

[Tirant]

Moved from Medieval's Christian coins to pre-decimal british.