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Anglo-Gallic Coinage

Started by Deeman, July 04, 2023, 04:34:10 PM

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Deeman

Feudal Coinage of Henry's IV, V and VI

Feudal coinage arose in the 10th century. The coinage of feudal lords was, at first, accepted (with varying discounts) in adjacent territories but eventually became only valid in the lands in which they were issued. Henry IV's reign was the last complete reign by an English monarch to solely issue French feudal currency.

There are no records of French feudal coinage covering the period 1399-1427, but some exist from 1427-53. These show that gold coinage in the Duchy ceased before 1427, silver coinage was struck until 1439 and black coinage continued to 1451. The records do not provide information as to which of the three Henry's they belong.

There is no definite attribution to coinage struck by Henry IV and the final issues of feudal coinage are consequently listed under Henry IV.

Gold denomination:
Hardi.

Silver denominations:
Double hardi.
Hardi.
Double hardi au genêt. No image.
Hardi au genêt.

Billon denominations:
Denier.
Denier au genêt.

Deeman

Henry's IV, V and VI Gold Feudal Coinage

Hardi

The gold hardi had a diameter of 28mm. The obverse design is a half-length crowned figure of the king facing holding a sword in his right hand, left hand raised in benediction, within an inner circle, hunting hound upwards on left, bear on right. The circumscription translates to 'Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England and France and Duke of Aquitaine'. The reverse design is a cross quernée with central quatrefoil, lion and lis in alternate quarters, all within an inner circle. The circumscription, taken from Psalm 121:2, translates to 'My help cometh from the Lord' (Auxilium meum a Domino).

Gold hardi, S8145.jpg

1399-1326 hardi, Bordeaux mint. Extremely rare. Most probably Henry IV.
Obverse circumscription is + hЄnRIC DЄI GRA R AnGLIЄ F D AQIT, double saltire stops.
Reverse circumscription is + AVXILIVm mЄVm A DOmInO followed by 'B' for Bordeaux, rosette stops.

Deeman

Henry's IV, V and VI Silver Feudal Coinage

Double Hardi

The silver double hardi had a diameter of 23mm. The obverse design is a half-length crowned figure of the king facing holding a sword in his right hand, left hand raised in benediction, within an inner circle, Gothic canopy arch above his head. The reverse design is a long cross pattée dividing the inscription, lion and lis in alternate quarters, within an inner circle. The circumscriptions together, starting with the obverse, translate to 'Henry, King of England and France and Lord of Aquitaine'.

There are three varieties:
Nothing above crown with pellet below lis and lions.
Pellet above crown with pellet below each lis.
Annulet above crown with annulet below each lis and either English title only or English and French titles on the obverse (the latter having France also in the reverse inscription as with all the other varieties).

Silver double-hardi, English title, annulet above crown, S8146.jpg

1399-1439 double hardi. Annulet above crown, English title on obverse. Very rare.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄnRICVS RЄX AnGLIЄ, annulet stops.
Reverse circumscription is FRAn / CIЄ D / nS AQ / ITAn, annulet stops, annulet below lis.

Silver double-hardi, English & French titles, annulet above crown, S8146.jpg

1399-1439 double hardi. Annulet above crown, English and French titles on obverse. Very rare.
Obverse circumscription is + Є'RIC' RЄX AnGLIЄ FRA, annulet stops.
Reverse circumscription is FRAn / CIЄ D / nS AQ / ITAn, annulet stops, annulet below lis.

Deeman

Henry's IV, V and VI Hardi

The silver hardi had a diameter of 18mm. The obverse design is a half-length crowned figure of the king facing holding a sword in his right hand, left hand raised in benediction, Gothic canopy arch above, figure to top and bottom edges of the coin. The reverse design is a long cross pattée dividing the inscription with lis and lion in alternate quarters. The circumscriptions together, starting with the obverse, translate to 'Henry, King of England and France and Lord of Aquitaine'.

There are several varieties:
Nothing above crown, lion in first quarter, either nothing or annulet below lis.
Pellet above crown, lion in first quarter, either nothing or pellet below lis.
Pellet above crown, lis in first quarter, either pellet or annulet below lis.
Annulet above crown, lion in first quarter, either nothing, pellet or annulet below lis. Also pellet below lis and behind lion.
Pellet-in-annulet above crown, lion in first quarter, pellet-in-annulet below lis.
Pellet-in-annulet above crown, lis in first quarter, pellet below lis.
Mullet above crown, lion in first quarter, pellet below lis and behind lion.
Mullet above crown, lis in first quarter, pellet below lis.

Silver hardi, pellet above crown, lion first quarter, pellet below lis, S8147.jpg

1399-1439 hardi. Pellet above crown.
Obverse circumscription is + Є'RIC' R / X AGLIЄ.
Reverse circumscription is FRA / CIЄ / DnS / AQI, lion first quarter, pellet below lis.

Silver hardi, annulet above crown, lion first quarter, annulet below lis, S8147.jpg

1399-1439 hardi. Annulet above crown.
Obverse circumscription is + Є'RIC' R / X A[GLIЄ].
Reverse circumscription is FRA / [CIЄ] / DnS / AQI, lion first quarter, annulet below lis.

Silver hardi, mullet above crown, lion first quarter, pellet below lis & behind lion, S8147.jpg

1399-1439 hardi. Mullet above crown.
Obverse circumscription is + Є'RIC' / R AGLЄ.
Reverse circumscription is FRA / CIЄ / DnS / AQI, lion first quarter, pellet below lis and behind lion.

Deeman

Henry's IV, V and VI Billon Feudal Coinage

Denier

The billon denier had a diameter of 18mm. There are three versions; one with Henry's English title only, another with his French title on the obverse and the third with his French title on the reverse. The obverse design is a plain cross within an inner circle, lis and lion in alternate quarters. The obverse circumscription, with or without the French title, translates to 'Henry, King of England and France' or 'Henry, King of England' respectively. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle. The reverse circumscription, with or without the French title, translates to 'France, Lord of Aquitaine' or 'Lord of Aquitaine' respectively.

There are several varieties:
Without French title, lis and lions upright.
Without French title, lis and lions at an angle.
Without French title, lis inverted and lions upright.
With French title on obverse, lis and lions upright.
With French title on obverse, lis and lion upright in 1st and 2nd quarters, lion and lis inverted in 3rd and 4th quarters.
With French title on reverse, lis and lion upright.
With French title on reverse, lis and lion upright, pellet in third quarter.
With French title on reverse, lis and lion upright in 1st and 2nd quarters, lion and lis inverted in 3rd and 4th quarters.

Billon denier, English title only, lis upright, S8150.jpg

1399-1451 denier. Without French title.
Obverse circumscription is + Є'RICVS RЄX AGLIЄ, rosette stops, lis and lions upright.
Reverse circumscription is + DOmInVS AQITAnЄ, rosette stop.

Billon denier, French title obverse, lis & lion upright 1st & 2nd quarters, lion & lis inverted 3rd & 4th quarters, S8150.jpg

1399-1451 denier. French title on obverse.
Obverse circumscription is + ЄnRIC R AnGLIЄ FRA, lis & lion upright 1st & 2nd qtrs, lion & lis inverted 3rd & 4th qtrs.
Reverse circumscription is + DOmInVS AQITAnIЄ.

Billon denier, French title reverse, lis & lion upright 1st & 2nd quarters, lion & lis inverted 3rd & 4th quarters, S8150.jpg

1399-1451 denier. French title on reverse.
Obverse circumscription is + hЄnRIC RЄX AnGLIЄ, lis & lion upright 1st & 2nd qtrs, lion & lis inverted 3rd & 4th qtrs.
Reverse circumscription is + FRAnCIЄ D AQITAnЄ.

Deeman

Henry's IV, V and VI 'Aux Genêts' Coinage

The design of the silver and billon coinage changed at some point with the introduction of the 'aux genêts' coinage consisting of a double hardi, hardi and denier incorporating a sprig of broom (planta genista). The House of Plantagenet derived its name from the broom being the nickname adopted by Geoffrey, Count of Anjou, the father of Henry II in reference to his habit of wearing a sprig of broom in his helmet.

Double Hardi and Hardi au Genêt

The silver double hardi aux genêt and hardi aux genêt had diameters of 22mm and 18mm respectively. The obverse design is a half-length crowned figure of the king facing holding a sword in his right hand, left hand raised in benediction, within an inner circle, Gothic canopy arch above his head, sprig of broom left and right in field. On the hardi, the figure of the king reaches the bottom edge of the coin. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle, lion and sprig of broom in alternate quarters. The circumscriptions together, starting with the obverse, translate to 'Henry, King of England and France, Lord of Aquitaine'.
There is no image of the double hardi. It is extremely rare.

Silver hardi aux genêt, S8149.jpg

1399-1439 hardi au genêt. Very rare.
Obverse circumscription is hЄ'RIC' R / AnG[liЄ].
Reverse circumscription is + F[Ran]CIЄ D AQITAnЄ, rosette stops.

Denier au genêt

The billon denier had a diameter of 17mm. The obverse design is a sprig of broom within an inner circle. The reverse design is a cross pattée within an inner circle, with lis and lion in alternate quarters. The circumscriptions together, starting with the obverse, translate to 'Henry, King of England and France and Lord of Aquitaine'.

Billon denier aux genêt, S8151.jpg

1399-1451 denier au genêt. Very rare.
Obverse circumscription is + hЄnRIC RЄX AnGLIЄ, rosette stops.
Reverse circumscription is + FRAnCIЄ D AQITAnЄ, rosette stops, lis first quarter.

Deeman

Henry V

Henry V, surnamed Monmouth, from his place of birth, was the second English monarch from the House of Lancaster. After fighting the Welsh during the revolt of Owain Glyndwr, and against the powerful aristocratic Percys of Northumberland at the Battle of Shrewsbury, Henry came into political conflict with his father, whose health was increasingly precarious after 1405. After his father's death in 1413, Henry assumed control of the country and embarked on war with France in the ongoing Hundred Years' War (1337-1453).

Henry was much more aggressive in asserting his claim to the French crown as his great-grandfather Edward III had been. Henry was well suited to become king. One of his first acts was to exhume the body of Richard II and have him interred next to his wife at Westminster Abbey. Henry V was interested in reconciling the factions that had created rebellion in earlier reigns and in this regard was successful and ultimately his rule was seen as firm with peace and stability at home.

With a stable England Henry was able to press his claim to the French crown. The French king Charles VI suffered bouts of debilitating mental illness and the struggle for control was fought between the Burgundian and Armagnac factions. Henry used this to his advantage. In Aug-Sep 1415, the port of Harfleur was blockaded and taken to provide a point of entry into France for the English army. On 25 Oct an English force took on a larger French one near the village of Agincourt and was victorious, opening the route to Calais.

Following this success Henry invaded Normandy taking the strategically important city of Caen (burial place of William the Conqueror). He came close to conquering France. After months of negotiation with Charles VI, the Treaty of Troyes (1420) recognised Henry V as regent and heir apparent to the French throne, and he was subsequently married to Charles's daughter, Catherine of Valois. Following Henry V's sudden and unexpected death in France two years later, he was succeeded by his infant son, who reigned as Henry VI.

Deeman

Henry V Regal Coinage

Henry V was the first English king to issue French regal coins in 1417. The other Anglo-Gallic coinages belong to the French feudal era.

The coinage of Richard II and Henry IV was struck in the traditionally English-held territories of Gascony. Under Henry V the English position regarding France hardened and he, like Edward III before him, asserted his claim to the French crown. Unlike earlier issues the coins struck by Henry V would be at the same standard as the French currency and so the denominations shift to imitate the local coinage.

The first coin struck was the guénar, at Caen, in 1417. A variety of the blanc, struck by Charles VI of France, value ten deniers tournois. Subsequent issues were ordered on 19 Jan 1418/9 and 25 Sep 1419, along with demi-guénars, but no specimens are known of either.

On 19 Jan 1418/9, the first issues of the gold agnel (French for lamb) and silver florette (variety of gros), were ordered for Rouen. The agnel was first issued under Philip IV in Jan 1309/10 and was struck in France until the period of Charles VI. The florette was struck by Charles VI and had a value of twenty denier tournois, or sixteen denier parisis, obtaining its name from the three large lis on the obverse.

Henry left Mantes for Pontoise on 4 Aug 1419, moving on to attack Gisors on 18 Aug. Gisors surrendered on 24 Sep and, the following day, Henry issued an ordinance that all his gold, silver and billon money thereafter to be distinguished by an 'h' in the centre of the reverse cross. This coinage was the second issue of the agnel and florette, and the issue of the billon mansois (value two denier) and denier, all ordered from Rouen. No specimen of the denier is known.

A third issue of florette was ordered on 12 Jan 1419/20 from Rouen and on 17 Apr 1420 from St Lô. On 16 Jun 1420, a fourth issue of the florette was ordered from both Rouen and St Lô.

On 6 May 1421, the gros au léopard was ordered from both Rouen and St Lô.

The final order under Henry's reign was on 30 Nov 1421 for the gold salut from Rouen, and the billon niquet and denier tournois from Rouen and St Lô. The salut was issued by Henry V by virtue of his power as Regent of France by the treaty of Troyes.

Deeman

Henry V Gold Coinage

Agnel

The gold agnel had a diameter of 23mm. The obverse design is a paschal lamb left one of the front legs of which is raised, haloed head turned to the right, in front of a trefoil cross with a banner, 'h'F RX' (Henricus Francorum rex) below divided by the pole of the banner, all within a tressure of arcs. The circumscription translates to 'Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us' (Agnus dei qui tollis pecata mundi miserere nobis). The reverse design is a cross fleury with either a rosette (first issue) or letter 'h' (second issue) in central quadrilobe, lis and lion in alternate angles, all within an ornate quadrilobe with lis in spandrels, no inner circle. The circumscription translates to 'Christ conquers, Christ reigns, Christ commands'.

Henry V gold agnel, first issue rosette in cross, lis first quarter, S8152.jpg

1418/9 agnel, Rouen mint, first issue.
Obverse circumscription is + AGn DЄI QVI TOLL PЄCA mVDI mISЄ nOBIS, double annulet stops.
Reverse circumscription is + XPC VIHCIT XPC RЄGHAT XPC IHPЄRAT, rosette stops, lis first angle, rosette in centre.

Henry V gold agnel, second issue 'h' in cross, lis first quarter, S8153.jpg

1419 agnel, Rouen mint, second issue.
Obverse circumscription is + AGn DЄI QVI TOLL PЄCA mVDI mISЄ nOBIS, double annulet stops.
Reverse circumscription is + XPC VIИCIT XPC RЄGИAT XPC IIIPЄRAT, rosette stops, lis first angle, 'h' in centre.

Henry V gold agnel, second issue 'h' in cross, lion first quarter, S8153.jpg

1419 agnel, Rouen mint, second issue.
Obverse circumscription is + AGn DЄI QVI TOLL PЄCA mVDI mISЄ nOBIS, double annulet stops.
Reverse circumscription is + XPC VIИCIT XPC RЄGИAT XPC IИPЄRAT, rosette stops, lion first angle, 'h' in centre.

Deeman

Henry V Salut

The obverse of the salut depicts the Annunciation (the iconography from which its name is derived), the announcement by Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus. The design shows the standing figures of the Virgin Mary and Angel Gabriel flanking the crowned English shield, AVЄ (first word of the angel's salutation, hence the name of the coin) on scroll above crown and below celestial rays (representing the Holy Ghost) shining downwards, all within an inner circle. The circumscription translates to 'Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England, heir of France'. The reverse design is a Latin cross, lis to left, lion to right facing left, 'h' below, tressure of ten arcs surrounding, lis on each cusp, all within an inner circle. The circumscription translates to 'Christ reigns, Christ conquers, Christ commands'.

Henry V gold salut, S8154.jpg

1421 salut, Rouen mint.
Obverse circumscription is hЄИR DЄI GRA RЄX AИGLIЄ hЄRЄS FRAИCI, double saltire stops.
Reverse circumscription is XPC' VIИCIT XPC' RЄGИAT XPC' IИPЄRAT, mullet stops.

Deeman

Henry V Silver Coinage

Guénar (Blanc à l'écu)

The silver guénar value was ten denier tournois. Diameter 27mm. The obverse design is a trio of lis within a shield in an inner circle and a circumscription translating to 'Henry, by the Grace of God, King of France'. The reverse design is cross pattée within an inner circle, with lis and crown in alternate quarters and a circumscription translating to 'Blessed be the name of the Lord'. A sun symbol is placed beneath the initial cross.

Henry V silver guénar, Caen, S8155.jpg

1417 guénar, Caen mint. Very rare.
Obverse circumscription is + hЄnRIC DI G FRAHCORV RЄX, double pellet-in-annulet stops.
Reverse circumscription is + SIT nOmЄ DnI BЄИЄDICTV, double pellet-in-annulet stops, lis first quarter.

Deeman

Henry V Florette

The silver florette value was twenty denier tournois. Diameter 26mm. There were four issues, the first two were struck at the Rouen mint with the last two being struck at the Rouen and St Lô mints.

All coins of Rouen from the first three issues have a pellet on or below the 'V' for FRANCORV and the 'D' of BЄNЄDICTV, both of which are sometimes difficult to see. For the fourth issue the pellet was moved to the first letter of both inscriptions. The St Lô issues had a pellet on or below the second letter of each inscription.

The exception to the cross initial mark occurs for the third Rouen issue which has either a cross or a lion for both inscriptions, and for the fourth Rouen issue which only has a lion initial mark for both inscriptions.

For the first and second issues, the obverse design is a crown above a trio of lis within an inner circle and a circumscription translating to 'Henry, King of France'. The third and fourth issues differ by having the crown and lis flanked by upward lions facing inwards with the circumscription for the fourth issue changing to 'Henry, King of England, heir of France'. The reverse design is cross fleury within an inner circle, with crown and lion in opposite quarters (first and fourth) and a circumscription translating to 'Blessed be the name of the Lord'. The second, third and fourth issues have an 'h' at the centre of the cross, whereas the first issue does not.

Henry V silver florette, first issue, Rouen, no 'h' in cross, S8156.jpg

1418/9 florette, Rouen mint, first issue.
Obverse circumscription is + hЄnRICVS FRAИCORV RЄX.
Reverse circumscription is + SIT nOmЄ DnI BЄИЄDICTV, triple pellet stops, crown first quarter.

Henry V silver florette, second issue, Rouen, 'h' in cross, S8157.jpg

1419 florette, Rouen mint, second issue.
Obverse circumscription is + hЄnRICVS FRAИCORV RЄX, triple pellet stops.
Reverse circumscription is + SIT nOmЄ DnI BЄИЄDICTV, triple pellet stops, crown first quarter, 'h' in cross.

Henry V silver florette, third issue, Rouen, cross initial mark, crown first quarter, S8158.jpg

1419/20 florette, Rouen mint, third issue.
Obverse circumscription is + hЄnRICVS FRAИCORV RЄX, triple pellet stops.
Reverse circumscription is + SIT nOmЄ DnI BЄИЄDICTV, triple pellet stops, crown first quarter, 'h' in cross.

Henry V silver florette, fourth issue, Rouen, lion initial mark, crown first quarter, S8159.jpg

1420 florette, Rouen mint, fourth issue.
Obverse circumscription is (lion) h RЄX AИGLIЄ hЄRЄS FRAИCIЄ, triple pellet stops.
Reverse circumscription is (lion) SIT nOmЄ DnI BЄИЄDICTV, triple pellet stops, crown first quarter, 'h' in cross.

Deeman

Henry V Gros au Léopard

The silver gros au léopard value was twenty denier tournois. Diameter 27mm. It was struck at the Rouen mint, characterised by a pellet under the first letter of each inscription, and the St Lô mint, characterised by a pellet under the second letter of each inscription. They never actually circulated and most were melted down.

The obverse design is a lion with two lis above and one lis below, all surmounted by a crown, within an inner circle and a circumscription translating to 'Henry, King of England, heir of France'. The reverse design is cross fleury, 'h' in central ornamented quadrilobe in an inner circle with a circumscription which translates to 'Blessed be the name of the Lord'. Extremely rare.

Henry V silver gros au léopard, Rouen, S8160.jpg

1421 gros au léopard, Rouen mint.
Obverse circumscription is + h RЄX AИGLIЄ Ƶ hЄRЄS FRAИCIЄ, triple pellet stops.
Reverse circumscription is + SIT nOmЄn DOmInI BЄИЄDICTVm, triple pellet stops.

Deeman

Henry V Billon Coinage

Mansois

The billon mansois value was two denier tournois. Diameter 21mm. The obverse design is a trio of lis within an inner circle and a circumscription translating to 'Henry, King of France'. The reverse design is cross pattée, 'h' in central circle, lis terminals dividing a circumscription which translates to 'double currency'. Extremely rare.

Henry V billon mansois, Rouen, S8161.jpg

1419 mansois, Rouen mint.
Obverse circumscription is + [hЄnRICV]S FRACO[RV] RЄ, colon stops, annulet below 'S'.
Reverse circumscription is + [Mo]n / ЄTA / DVP / LЄX, annulet below 'D'.

Deeman

Henry V Niquet

The billon niquet was worth two denier tournois and was authorised on 30 Nov 1421. Diameter 23mm. It was issued from the mints of Rouen (established 1419) and St Lô (established 1420). The Rouen issue has a pellet or annulet below the first letter of both obverse and reverse inscriptions. The St Lô issue has a pellet or annulet below the second letter of both obverse and reverse inscriptions. The coin continued to be stuck during the first year of Henry VI's reign. Niquet is a term for small and at the time of its production this was practically the only coin in circulation.

The obverse design is a lion crowned passant left, lis above, all within an inner circle. The circumscription translates to 'Henry, 'Henry, King of England, heir of France''. The reverse design is a cross pattée with 'h' in central ornamented quadrilobe, all within an inner circle. The circumscription translates to 'Blessed be the name of the Lord'.

Henry V billon niquet, Rouen, pellet below first letter, S8162.jpg

1421 niquet, Rouen mint.
Obverse circumscription is + h RЄX ANGL hЄRЄS FRAИC, triple pellet stops, pellet below first letter.
Reverse circumscription is + SIT nOmЄ DnI BЄИЄDICTV, triple pellet stops, pellet below first letter.

Henry V billon niquet, St Lô, pellet below second letter, S8162.jpg

1421 niquet, St Lô mint.
Obverse circumscription is + h RЄX AHGL hЄRЄS FRAHC, triple pellet stops, pellet below second letter.
Reverse circumscription is + SIT nOmЄ DnI BЄИЄDICTV, triple pellet stops, pellet below second letter.