English Coinage of the Tudors

[Deeman]

Introduction

The origins of the Tudors can be traced to the 13th century, but the family's dynastic fortunes were established by Owen Tudor (c. 1400-61), a Welsh adventurer who took service with Kings Henry V and Henry VI and fought on the Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses; he was beheaded after the Yorkist victory at Mortimer's Cross (1461). Owen had married Henry V's Lancastrian widow, Katherine of Valois; and their eldest son, Edmund (c. 1430-56), was created Earl of Richmond by Henry VI and married Margaret Beaufort, the Lady Margaret, who, as great-granddaughter of Edward III's son John of Gaunt, held a distant claim to the throne, as a Lancastrian. Their only child, Henry Tudor, was born after Edmund's death.

The House of Tudor gave five sovereigns to England:

Henry VII (1485-1509).
Henry VIII (1509-47), Henry VII's son.
Edward VI (1547-53), Henry VIII's son.
Mary I (1553-58), Henry VIII's daughter.
Elizabeth I (1558-1603), Henry VIII's daughter.

Following Edward VI's death, Lady Jane Grey assumed the throne. The accession was engineered by the powerful Duke of Northumberland, President of the King's Council, in the interests of promoting his own dynastic line. Northumberland persuaded the sickly Edward VI to name Lady Jane Grey as his heir just before his death on 6 Jul 1553. As one of Henry VIII's great-nieces, the young girl was a genuine claimant to the throne. Northumberland then married his own son, Lord Guilford Dudley, to Lady Jane. On the death of Edward, Jane assumed the throne and her claim was recognised by the Council on 10 July in London. Despite this, the country rallied to Mary, Katherine of Aragon's daughter and a devout Roman Catholic. Jane was deposed on 19 July, her own father even abandoning her cause. She had reigned for only nine days and was later executed with her husband on 12 Feb 1554. No official coinage was struck during her 9-day reign.

[Deeman]

Henry VII

Overshadowed by his son and granddaughter, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, Henry VII is often an afterthought of Tudor history, and yet without him one of the most famous dynasties in British history would never have existed.

On 7 Aug 1485, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, a Lancastrian exile landed at Milford Haven in Wales with a small army of French mercenaries, former Yorkists and diehard Lancastrians to claim the throne. On 22 Aug, he defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 and was crowned Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, and bringing an immediate end to the Plantagenet Age.

The reign of the first Tudor was fraught with danger, political and personal. He ruled for 24 years, during which time he was subjected to numerous treacheries. Henry had not been long on the throne before there was an insurrection headed by Lord Lovel, who had been a partisan of Richard III. It was suppressed without difficulty due to insider information. Then, the birth of Henry VII's son, Arthur, in Sep 1486, served as an incentive to the Yorkists. A youth named Lambert Simnel (real name unknown) appeared in Ireland, claiming to be the Earl of Warwick. Ireland was chosen because the house of York had always been popular in that country. Margaret of Burgundy and John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, espoused the cause of the pretender even though Henry had paraded the real Earl of Warwick through the streets of London to show that he was not in Ireland at all. Lincoln joined Simnel, and with a following consisting mainly of Irishmen and German mercenaries landed in England. The rebellion was crushed at the battle of Stoke, where Lincoln was killed and Simnel was taken prisoner. Henry, recognising that Simnel had been a harmless dupe, relegated him to appropriate service in the royal kitchens.

Another involved a pretender to his throne named Perkin Warbeck, who emerged out of nowhere in 1490 claiming to be Richard, Duke of York, the second son of Edward IV, the younger of the two princes. In truth, the two boys were imprisoned in 1483 by Richard III and never heard from again, and in this mystery lay Warbeck's claim. With the Scots behind him, he invaded England, for the final time, in 1496, landing in Cornwall, but he was no match for the Tudor army and was defeated. Henry VII executed him in 1499.

Henry and Elizabeth had eight children, but only four survived past childhood. Henry's eldest son Arthur was first in line to the throne. When Arthur was born, he was presented as the heir of King Arthur, to strengthen Henry's position as king. Arthur was even christened at Winchester Cathedral, where King Arthur supposedly sat with his Knights of the Round Table. Arthur was well prepared for the role of king. Because Henry VII had grown up in exile, he wanted to give Arthur the skills and preparation that he had lacked. Arthur married Katherine of Aragon in 1501. A marriage with the daughter of the King of Spain strengthened the Tudor position and made England appear credible on the world stage.

However, in 1502, Arthur died of a sweating sickness. This left his father in a difficult position. The lack of a male heir old enough to take the throne weakened his rule, particularly given England's bitter recent history of competing claims to the throne. It also meant that the time and effort put into preparing Arthur had been wasted, and that Katherine of Aragon was now without a husband.

Henry VII's younger son (the future Henry VIII) was only ten years old when his brother Arthur died. Despite his father's concerns, the Tudor dynasty would continue with Henry - he would even marry his brother's widow Katherine after acceding to the throne. As for Henry VII's other children, Margaret Tudor became the wife of James IV of Scotland, and Mary Tudor married Louis XII and became Queen of France.

Henry's wife died on 11 Feb 1503, a few days after giving birth to a daughter, Katherine, who died soon after. It was a shattering personal blow to the king and a major political blow. Elizabeth's bloodline was, in many eyes, superior to that of Henry Tudor himself, and her death robbed him of one prop to his dynastic claim. Henry VII did engage in diplomacy to find a second wife, but did not in the end remarry. Henry spent money shrewdly and left a full treasury on his death in 1509.

Despite winning his crown on the battlefield, Henry was a king of wits and planning rather than brawn. His whole life was an education in politics and understanding the differences behind what people said and what they meant. Having started a new dynasty and aware of its tenuous foundations, Henry's goals were fixed on forming profitable alliances with the other royal houses of Europe.

[Deeman]

Henry VII coinage

Henry VII was parsimonious, becoming the first king to keep his expenses within the limits of his income. His monetary policy regulated by statutes and ordinances, supported by Parliament, had its aim to keep up the high quality of gold and silver coins, stop clipping, prevent counterfeiting and put an end to coins and bullion leaving the realm.

The year 1489 saw major changes in the English coinage by Henry VII, representing the first step in the transition from mediaeval to renaissance styles. The first gold pound was introduced, the largest and most valuable ever seen at that time, that showed the king majestically enthroned which led it to become known as the 'sovereign', alongside which a more simplistic version appeared on the pennies. In addition, the style of the crown on the groat and lower denominations changed from an open to an arched crown. The gold angel continued, though it was re-styled, and there was a limited minting of the ryal. Notably, the forerunner of the English shilling, the silver 'testoon' was introduced, which replaced the traditional facing bust with a real portrait of the king in profile, also becoming a feature of the groat and half-groat. The testoon was issued in 1502, but the leap from 4d as the largest small coin to 12d value was probably too great and the coins proved unpopular and after two- or three-years production ceased. Henry VIII reintroduced them in 1544 at a considerably lower quantity of silver during the Great Debasement, in which many of Henry VIII's coinage perished in melting pots, leaving his coins somewhat rare. The coin was called a 'testoon' because it showed a real likeness of the King's head (from the Latin testa or French tête).

Denominations and mints

Sovereign (London mint).
Ryal (London mint).
Angel and half-angel (London mint).
Testoon (London mint).
Groat, facing bust (London mint).
Groat, profile issue (London mint).
Half-groat, facing bust (London, Canterbury, York and York episcopal mints).
Half-groat, profile issue (London, Canterbury and York episcopal mints).
Penny, facing bust design (London, Canterbury, Durham and York episcopal mints).
Penny, sovereign type (London, Durham and York episcopal mints).
Halfpenny (London, Canterbury and York episcopal mints).
Farthing (London mint).

No coins were produced at the Canterbury mint from Jan 1501 and Jan 1504. Thomas Langton, elected 22 Jan 1501, died before his translation could be perfected. Henry Deane, who had the temporalities restored to him on 7 Aug 1501, died on 15 Feb 1503 without striking any coins. William Wareham, his successor, received the temporalities on 24 Jan 1504, but did not commence striking coins immediately.

Initial marks

The following initial marks were used:



Issue dates with marks applicable to specific mints identified:

1485-87: halved sun and rose; lis upon sun and rose; lis upon half rose; lis-rose dimidiated; rose - York episcopal.
1487: lis; cross fitchée.
1487-88: rose; plain cross - Durham.
1488-89: no marks.
1489-93: cinquefoil; crozier - Durham.
1492: cross fitchée - gold only.
1493-95: escallop; dragon - gold only; lis - Canterbury and York episcopal; tun - Canterbury.
1495-98: pansy; tun - Canterbury; lis - York episcopal.
1498-99: crowned leopard's head; lis issuant from rose; tun - Canterbury.
1499-1502: anchor.
1502-04: greyhound's head; lis - profile issue only; martlet - York episcopal.
1504-05: cross-crosslet.
1504-09: martlet - Canterbury and York episcopal; rose - Canterbury and York episcopal.
1505-09: pheon.

[Deeman]

Henry VII sovereign

The sovereign had a value of 20/- at a weight of 240 grains, 0.5oz troy at 0.995 fine (23.875ct). The obverse of the sovereign depicts the king with imperial crown, seated facing on a throne, wearing his coronation gown and holding orb and sceptre, within a circumscription translating to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England and France, Lord of Ireland'. The letters 'ЄT', Latin for 'and', are used on issues subsequent to the first. The reverse design features a large quartered shield of the Royal Arms within a double rose, symbolising the union of York and Lancaster after the Wars of the Roses. On the initial issue the shield is surmounted by the imperial crown, but on subsequent issues there is no crown, the shield is smaller and the Tudor rose is surrounded by a ten-arched double tressure divided into five two-crescent sections by the leaves of the emblem. The circumscription reads JESUS AUTEM TRANSIENS PER MEDIUM ILLORUM IBAT or abbreviation thereof translating to 'But Jesus passing through their midst went His way', Luke 4:30.




1489 sovereign, London, cinquefoil initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC DnS IBARnЄ, trefoil stops, high-back throne, no ornaments in field.
Reverse inscription is IhЄSVS AVTЄm TRAnSIЄnS PЄR mЄDIVm ILLORVm IBAT, trefoil stops.




1492 sovereign, London, cross fitchée initial mark on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRICVS DI GRACIA RЄX AnGLIЄ ЄT FRAnC DnS IBAR, quatrefoil stops, low-back throne, diapered field of lis.
Reverse inscription is IhЄ AVTЄm TRAnSIЄnS PЄR mЄDIVm ILLORVm IBAThЄ, trefoil stops, lion passant guardant and lis alternating in tressure crescents, trefoils in spandrels.




1493-95 sovereign, London, dragon initial mark both sides, Henry's badge at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Obverse inscription is hЄNRICVS DЄI GRACIA RЄX ANGLIЄ ЄT FRANCIЄ DNS IBAR, mullet stops, high-back throne with Gothic tracery and finials, and two Renaissance-style side pillars surmounted by greyhound and dragon, lis scattered in field.
Reverse inscription is IhЄSVS AVTЄM TRANSIЄNS PЄR MЄDIVM ILLORVM IBAThЄ, mullet stops, lion passant guardant and lis alternating in tressure crescents, ornamented tressure cusps.




1502-04 sovereign, London, lis initial mark on obverse, dragon on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRICVS DЄ GRA RЄX AnGL ЄT FRAnC DnS IBAR', saltire stops, wide high-back Gothic-style throne having side pillars with Gothic finials, lis scattered in field.
Reverse inscription is IhЄSVS AVTЄM TRAnSIЄnS PЄR MЄDIVM ILLORVM IBAT, saltire stops, lion passant guardant and lis alternating in tressure crescents, ornamented tressure cusps.




1504-05 sovereign, London, lis initial mark on obverse, cross-crosslet on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRICVS DЄI GRACIA RЄX / AnGLIЄ ЄT FRAnC' DnS' hIB', saltire stops, high-back throne with decorative side pillars and patterned back, Tudor symbol of portcullis with chains at king's feet, tressure of trefoils on inner circle.
Reverse inscription is IhЄSVS AVTЄM TRAnSIЄnS PЄR MЄDIVM ILLORVM IBAT, saltire stops, elaborate floral surround to Tudor rose.

Piedfort double-sovereign known of lis + cross-crosslet issue having same size flan but twice the thickness.




1505-09 sovereign, London, lis initial mark on obverse, pheon on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRICVS DЄI GRACIA RЄX / AnGLIЄ ЄT FRAnC' DnS' hIB', saltire stops, high-back throne with decorative side pillars and patterned back, Tudor symbol of portcullis with chains at king's feet, tressure of trefoils on inner circle.
Reverse inscription is IhЄSVS AVTЄM TRAnSIЄnS PЄR MЄDIVM ILLORVM IBAT, saltire stops, elaborate floral surround to Tudor rose.

Piedfort double-sovereign known of pheon issue having same size flan but twice the thickness.

[Deeman]

Henry VII ryal

The ryal had a value of 10/- at a weight of 120 grains, 0.25oz troy at 0.995 fine. The obverse of the ryal depicts the crowned king, standing facing in a ship, holding a sword and quartered shield, flag with dragon at stern, flag with letter 'h' at prow, within a circumscription interrupted by the design translating to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England and France, Lord of Ireland'. The letters 'ЄT', Latin for 'and' are used. The reverse design features a shield containing three lis within a double rose, symbolising the union of York and Lancaster after the Wars of the Roses. The Tudor rose is surrounded by a ten-arched tressure divided into five two-crescent sections by the leaves of the emblem. The circumscription reads JESUS AUTEM TRANSIENS PER MEDIUM ILLORUM IBAT or abbreviation thereof translating to 'But Jesus passing through their midst went His way', Luke 4:30.




1492 ryal, London, cross fitchée initial mark on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄn / RI / C DI GRA RЄX AnGL ЄT FRAnC DnS I / BAR, trefoil stops.
Reverse inscription is IhC AVT TRAnSIЄnS PЄR mЄDIVm ILLORVm IBAT, trefoil stops, trefoils on tressure cusps, lis in some spandrels.

[Deeman]

Henry VII angel

The angel had a value of 6/8 at a weight of 80 grains, 0.167oz troy at 0.995 fine. The obverse of the angel depicts archangel St. Michael, haloed and winged, standing with one foot on the dragon and piercing it through the mouth with a spear, the other end of which ends in a cross-crosslet which marks the termination of the circumscription which translates to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England and France,' with some earlier issues including his Irish title (Lord of Ireland). The design was restyled during the issue to show the angel with both feet on the dragon. The reverse design is an English galley with two ropes to the mast from the stern, one from the prow and with 'h' and a rose set below the main topmast, the ship surmounted by square-topped shield bearing the King's arms, all within a circumscription of PER CRUCEM TUAM SALVA NOS CHRISTE REDEMPTOR or abbreviation thereof translating to 'By Thy cross save us, O Christ Redeemer'.




1485-87 angel, London, halved sun and rose initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAnC, saltire stops, hЄnRIC over RICARD.
Reverse inscription is PЄR / CRVSЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPC RЄDЄmPT, saltire stops, 'h' over 'R'.




1485-87 angel, London, mule - halved sun and rose initial mark on obverse, lis upon half rose on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAnC, saltire stops, hЄnRIC over RICARD.
Reverse inscription is PЄR / CRVCЄm TVA SALVA nOS XPC RЄDЄm, no stops, 'h' over 'R'.




1487-88 angel, London, rose initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAnC DnS I / B (Irish title included), trefoil stops.
Reverse inscription is PЄR C / RVCЄ TVA SALVA [nOS XPЄ'] RЄDЄ'TOR, trefoil stops.




1488-89 angel, London, no initial marks.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAnC DnS (part Irish title included), trefoil stops.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CR / CЄ TVA SALVA [nOS XPЄ'] RЄDЄ', trefoil stops.




1493-95 angel, London, escallop initial mark both sides, sovereign/ryal reverse inscription error.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGLI z FRAnC', resette stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is IhC AVT TRAnSIЄS PЄ mЄDIV ILLOR IB, rosette stops.




1495-98 angel, London, pansy initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGLI z FRAnC', quatrefoil stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ' RЄDЄ', rosette stops.




1495-98 angel, London, mule - pansy initial mark on obverse, escallop on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRA', rosette stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CRVCЄ' TVA' SALVA nOS XPЄ' RЄDЄm', rosette stops.




1499-1502 angel, London, anchor initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL z FRAn', trefoil stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ' RЄD', trefoil stops.




1502-04 angel, London, greyhound's head initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGLIЄ z FRA', saltire stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ' RЄDЄ', saltire stops.




1504-05 angel, London, cross-crosslet initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGL' z FRA', saltire stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ' RЄDЄ', saltire stops.




1505-09 angel, London, pheon initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR', saltire stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ' RЄD', saltire stops.




1505-09 angel, London, pheon and cross-crosslet initial marks both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGLIЄ z FRA', saltire stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is PЄR CRVCЄ TVA SALVA nOS XPЄ' RЄD', saltire stops.

[Deeman]

Henry VII half-angel

The half-angel had a value of 3/4 at a weight of 40 grains, 0.0833oz troy at 0.995 fine. The obverse and reverse designs are the same as those of the angel. The obverse circumscription translates to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England', with 'and' (z) added at the end on some issues. The reverse circumscription is O CRUX AVE SPES UNICA translating to 'Hail thou cross my only hope'.




1485-87 half-angel, London, halved sun and rose initial mark both sides. (Extremely rare.)
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGnL, saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is O / CRVX AVE SPЄS VnICA, saltire stops.




1487-88 half-angel, London, rose initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnG', rosette stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is O CRVX AVE SPЄS VnICA, rosette stops.




1495-98 half-angel, London, pansy initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGnLI', rosette stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is O CRVX AVE SPЄS VnICA, rosette stops.




1505-09 half-angel, London, pheon initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGL z, saltire stops, angel with both feet on dragon.
Reverse inscription is O CRVX AVE SPЄS VnICA, saltire stops.

[Deeman]

Henry VII testoon

Henry VII testoons are extremely rare and are of the nature of a tentative issue to test acceptance, but it proved unpopular. This was a realistic approach to the design of English coins, probably well overdue, at the time of the Renaissance era.

The testoon had a value of 12d, at a weight of 144 grains, 0.3oz troy at 0.925 fine, 30-31mm diameter. The obverse of the testoon depicts a profile crowned bust facing right, the crown having a single jewelled arch, within a circumscription commencing with an initial mark which translates to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England and France' with and without his regnal number (VII and septim{o}). The reverse design is a long cross fourchée surmounted by a square-topped shield bearing the King's arms, within a circumscription commencing with an initial mark, divided across the quadrants of the cross, of POSUI DEUM ADJUTOREM MEUM or abbreviation thereof which translates to 'I have made God my helper' from Psalms 54.4.




1502-04 testoon, London, lis initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI' GRA' RЄX AnGLIЄ z FRAn', saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTO' / ЄV mЄV', saltire stops.




1502-04 testoon, London, lis initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' SEPTIm DI' GRA' RЄX AnGL' z FR', saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є' mЄVm, saltire stops.

[Deeman]

Henry VII groat – facing bust issue

Typical crowns on groats:



The silver groat had a value of 4d, at a weight of 48 grains, 0.1oz troy at 0.925 fine, 26-27mm diameter. The obverse of the groat depicts a crowned bust facing within a double tressure with fleurs on cusps for an open crown, changing to a broken tressure stopping at crown when the crown is arched. The design is within a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, translating to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England and France'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée initially, changing to a cross fourchée as the issue progresses. It is upon twin concentric inscriptions divided across the quadrants of the cross, with a trefoil of pellets in each inner angle. The outer inscription, commencing with an initial mark, is POSUI DEUM ADJUTOREM MEUM or abbreviation thereof translating to 'I have made God my helper' from Psalms 54.4, and the inner inscription identifies the Tower mint.




1485-87 groat, London, lis upon half rose initial mark on obverse, lis-rose dimidiated on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC', saltire stops, open crown, fleurs on seven tressure cusps.
Reverse cross pattée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1485-87 groat, London, lis upon half rose initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC', saltire stops, open crown, rose on cusp at base of breast on first coin, fleurs on six tressure cusps.
Reverse cross pattée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1488-89 groat, London, no initial marks.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, trefoil stops, crown with two unjewelled arches, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross pattée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, trefoil stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1488-89 groat, London, no initial marks.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, trefoil stops, crown with two unjewelled arches, saltires flanking neck, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross pattée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1489-93 groat, London, cinquefoil initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAn', trefoil stops, crown with two unjewelled arches, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, trefoil stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, trefoil after TAS and DOn.




1489-93 groat, London, cinquefoil initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC, rosette stops, crown with two jewelled arches, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, rosette stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, double rosettes before CIVI and LOn and after TAS and DOn.




1493-95 groat, London, escallop initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRAnC', rosette stops, crown with two jewelled arches, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, rosette stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, double rosettes before CIVI and LOn and after TAS and DOn.




1495-98 groat, London, pansy initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR', saltire stops, crown with two unjewelled arches, realistic hair, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, double saltires before CIVI and after DOn, single after TAS.




1498-99 groat, London, crowned leopard's head initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRA', saltire stops, crown with two arches outer jewelled, realistic hair, broken tressure with fleurs on four cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1502-04 groat, London, greyhound's head initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR', saltire stops, single arch crown, realistic hair, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, double saltires before CIVI, saltire before CIVI & LOn and after TAS & DOn.




1502-04 groat, London, mule - greyhound's head initial mark on obverse, rose on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGL' z FR', saltire stops, crown with two arches outer jewelled, realistic hair, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, double saltires before CIVI, saltire before CIVI & LOn and after TAS & DOn.




1504-05 groat, London, cross-crosslet initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGLIЄ' z FR', saltire stops, single arch crown, realistic hair, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, double saltires before CIVI, saltire after TAS and before LOn.




1504-05 groat, London, cross-crosslet initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGLIЄ' z FRA', saltire stops, crown with two arches outer jewelled, realistic hair, broken tressure with fleurs on all cusps.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, double saltires before CIVI, saltire after TAS and DOn.

[Deeman]

Henry VII groat – facing bust trial issue



Around 1487, a trial groat was struck with a double arched jewelled crown and a portcullis, of five pales, four rails and round-linked chain either side, over the centre of the reverse cross. It has a lis initial mark on the reverse. The picture is from a book plate.

[Deeman]

Henry VII groat – profile issue

These groats were initially a tentative issue alongside the testoon issue, but became a regular issue from around 1505, characterised by the use of cross-crosslet and/or pheon initial marks and a triple band at bottom of crown.

The obverse depicts a profile crowned bust facing right, the crown having a single jewelled arch, within a circumscription commencing with an initial mark which translates to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England and France' with and without his regnal number (VII and septim{o}). The reverse design is a long cross fourchée surmounted by a square-topped shield bearing the King's arms, within a circumscription commencing with an initial mark, divided across the quadrants of the cross, of POSUI DEUM ADJUTOREM MEUM or abbreviation thereof which translates to 'I have made God my helper' from Psalms 54.4.




1502-04 tentative issue groat, London, lis initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRICVS DЄI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FRA', saltire stops, double band to crown.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є' mЄVm, saltire stops.




1502-04 tentative issue groat, London, die sink error, lis initial mark on obverse, greyhound's head reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AGL' z FRA', saltire stops, double band to crown.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є' mЄV, saltire stops, inscription starts at 9 o'clock.




1504-05 tentative issue groat, London, cross-crosslet initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' VII DI' GRA' RЄX AGL' z F', saltire stops, double band to crown.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops.




1504-05 tentative issue groat, London, cross-crosslet initial mark both sides. (Extremely rare with tressure.)
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' VII DI' GRA' RЄX AGL' z FR', saltire stops, double band to crown, tressure with fleurs.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops.




1505-09 regular issue groat, London, pheon initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' VII DI' GRA' RЄX AGL' z F', saltire stops, triple band to crown.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops.




1505-09 regular issue groat, London, cross-crosslet initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' VII DI' GRA' RЄX AGL' z FR', saltire stops, triple band to crown.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є mЄV', saltire stops.

[Deeman]

Henry VII half-groat – facing bust issue

The half-groat had a value of 2d, at a weight of 24 grains, 0.05oz troy at 0.925 fine, 22-23mm diameter. The obverse and reverse designs and inscriptions are similar to those of the corresponding groat issues.

The tun initial mark used on the Canterbury issues is a pun on Archbishop Morton's name as 'More Tuns'. The monument to him in Canterbury Cathedral's crypt features the motif of the tun or barrel prominently.




1485-87 facing bust half-groat, London, lis upon half rose initial mark on obverse. (Extremely rare.)
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z F', saltire stops, open crown, unbroken tressure with no fleurs.
Reverse cross pattée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, no stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1493-95 facing bust half-groat, Canterbury, tun initial mark on obverse. Archbishop John Morton 1486-1500.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR', trefoil stops, open crown, saltires flanking neck, tressure with fleurs on six cusps.
Reverse cross pattée with 'm' over centre, with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, no stops; CIVI / TAS / CAn / TOR.




1493-95 facing bust half-groat, Canterbury, tun initial mark on reverse. Archbishop John Morton 1486-1500.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR', trefoil stops, crown with two arches, saltires flanking neck, broken tressure with fleurs on six cusps, realistic hair.
Reverse cross pattée with 'm' over centre, with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, no stops; CIVI / TAS / CAn / TOR.




1495-98 facing bust half-groat, Canterbury, tun initial mark both sides. King and Archbishop Morton joint issue.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR', rosettee stops, crown with two arches outer jewelled, broken tressure with no fleurs, realistic hair.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTO' / Є' mЄV', no stops; CIVI / TAS / CAn / TOR.




1495-98 facing bust half-groat, York royal, die sink error, lis initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AnGL' z FR', rosettee stops, crown with two arches outer jewelled, tressure with no fleurs but crescents overlap, realistic hair.
Reverse cross fourchée with pellet in central lozenge, with inscriptions POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTO' / Є' mЄV', no stops, inscription starts at 3 o'clock; CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI.




1495-98 facing bust half-groat, London, lis initial mark both sides
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGL' z FR, trefoil stops, crown with two arches outer jewelled, lis on breast, broken tressure with no fleurs, realistic hair.
Reverse cross fourchée with pellet in central lozenge, with inscriptions POSVI / DЄVm A / DIVTOR / Є mЄVm, no stops; CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1502-04 facing bust half-groat, York episcopal, martlet initial mark both sides. Archbishop Thomas Savage 1501-09.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AGL' z FR', saltire stops, crown with two arches, keys flanking neck, no tressure, realistic hair.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTO' / Є' mЄV', no stops; CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI.




1502-04 facing bust half-groat, York episcopal, martlet initial mark both sides. Archbishop Thomas Savage 1501-09.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC' DI GRA RЄX AGL' z F', saltire stops, crown with two arches, keys flanking neck, broken tressure with fleurs on five cusps, realistic hair.
Reverse cross fourchée with inscriptions POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTO' / Є' mЄV', saltire stops; CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI, double saltires before CIVI.

[Deeman]

Henry VII half-groat – profile issue

The obverse and reverse designs and inscriptions of the profile issue half-groat are similar to those of the corresponding groat issues.




1502-04 half-groat, London, lis initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC VII DI GRA RЄX AGL' z, saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTO / Є' mЄV', saltire stops.




1502-04 half-groat, London, lis initial mark on reverse. (Extremely rare without VII.)
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGL' z FR, no VII after king's name, saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є' mЄV', saltire stops.




1504-09 half-groat, Canterbury, martlet initial mark both sides. King and archbishop joint issue.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC VII DI GRA RЄX AGL' z, saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTO / Є' mЄV', saltire stops.




1504-09 half-groat, Canterbury, rose initial mark both sides. King and archbishop joint issue.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC VII DI GRA RЄX AGL', saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTO / Є' mЄV', saltire stops.




1505-09 half-groat, London, pheon initial mark both sides.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC VII DI GRA RЄX AGL' z, saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є' mЄV', saltire stops.




1508-09 half-groat, York episcopal, martlet initial mark both sides. Archbishop Christopher Bainbridge 1508-14.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC VII DI GRA RЄX AGL', saltire stops.
Reverse inscription is POSVI / DЄV' A / DIVTOR / Є' mЄV', saltire stops, keys flanking bottom of shield.

[Deeman]

Henry VII facing bust penny

The silver penny had a weight of 12 grains. 0.025oz troy at 0.925 fine, 17-19mm diameter. The obverse design is a bust facing with a circumscription, commencing with an initial mark, which translates to 'Henry, by the Grace of God, king of England'. The reverse design is a long cross pattée or cross fourchée dividing the coin into four quadrants circumscribed by an inscription, identifying the mint, split across the quadrants, with each inner quadrant having a trio of pellets.

An initial mark is only present on the obverse with the exception of a Canterbury issue which has an initial mark (tun) on both sides.




1485-87 penny, London, lis upon half rose initial mark. (Extremely rare.)
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DЄI GRA RЄX AG', no stops, no marks by neck, open crown.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, cross pattée.




1485-87 penny, London, no initial mark. (Extremely rare.)
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL', no stops, small cross before hЄnRIC, quatrefoils flanking neck, open crown.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, cross pattée.




1485-87 penny, York, rose initial mark. Archbishop Thomas Rotherham 1480-1500.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL, no stops, T and cross flanking neck, open crown.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI, cross pattée, 'h' at centre of cross.




1485-87 penny, York, halved sun and rose initial mark. Archbishop Thomas Rotherham 1480-1500.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnG, no stops, T and trefoil flanking neck, saltire on breast, open crown.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI, cross pattée, quatrefoil at centre of cross, extra pellet in CIVI quadrant.




1493-95 penny, Canterbury, tun initial mark on obverse. Archbishop John Morton 1486-1500. (Extremely rare.)
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnGL, no stops, saltires flanking neck, open crown.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / CAn / TOR, cross fourchée, 'm' at centre of cross.




1493-95 penny, Canterbury, tun initial mark both sides. Archbishop John Morton 1486-1500.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AGL, no stops, double-arched crown.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / CAn / TOR, cross fourchée.

[Deeman]

Henry VII sovereign penny

The obverse design depicts the king, crowned, seated facing on a throne, wearing his coronation gown and holding orb and sceptre, within a circumscription, translating to 'Henry by the Grace of God, king of England' or abbreviation thereof. The reverse design features a quartered shield of the Royal Arms upon a long cross fourchée dividing the coin into four quadrants with a circumscription, split across the quadrants identifying the mint.

London mint issues have initial marks on both sides or one side only. Ecclesiastical mints have no initial marks.




1489 penny, London, no initial mark.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX An', saltire stops, two pillars to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1489-1500 penny, York, no initial mark. Archbishop Thomas Rotherham 1480-1500.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnG', no stops, no pillars to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI, keys flanking bottom of shield.




1489-1500 penny, York, no initial mark. Archbishop Thomas Rotherham 1480-1500.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX An' (AnG' second coin), trefoil stops, one pillar to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / ЄBO / RACI, keys flanking bottom of shield.




1489-93 penny, Durham, no initial mark. Bishop John Sherwood 1484-94.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX A', no stops, one pillar to throne, crozier to king's left.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / DIR / HAm, 'B-S' flanking bottom of shield, crozier on cross.




1489-93 penny, London, cinquefoil initial mark on obverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX AnG', no stops, one pillar to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1493-95 penny, London, lis initial mark.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX An', rosette stops, one pillar to throne, missing orb.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, rosette stops.




1495-98 penny, London, pansy initial mark on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX An', no stops, two pillars to throne, missing orb.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1494-1501 penny, Durham, no initial mark. Bishop Richard Fox(e) 1494-1501.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX A', no stops, two pillars to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / DIR / HAm, mitre above shield, 'R-D' flanking bottom of shield.




1494-1501 penny, Durham, no initial mark. Bishop Richard Fox(e) 1494-1501.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX A', no stops, two pillars to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / DIR / HAm, mitre above shield, 'D-R' flanking bottom of shield.




1505-09 penny, London, pheon initial mark on reverse.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX An', no stops, two pillars to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn.




1505-09 penny, London, pheon initial mark.
Obverse inscription is hЄnRIC DI GRA RЄX, saltire stops, two pillars to throne.
Reverse inscription is CIVI / TAS / LOn / DOn, saltire stops.