King Henry VIII., 1509 to 1547.
First Coinage
The different coinages of Henry VIII. vary from each other in type, weight and fineness of metal; they may be well divided into five classes. 1. at the commencement of his reight; 2. at his 18th year; 3. at his 34th year; 4 at his 36th year; 5. at his 37th year.
1. His first coinage exactly resembles that of the last years of his father, for he actually continued his portrait upon the coin, only converting the VII. into VIII. in the legend, and, upon some of the half- groats, giving the names of the mint instead of the usual legend of POSVI, &c. Of this coinage we have the groat, half-groat, penny, half-penny and farthing.
The weight and fineness are the same as before, 11 1/10 fine silver, 9/10 alloy, and the penny weighing 12 grains.
The groats of this coinage have all the POSVI &c. legend, and exactly resemble his father's, except that they have VIII. instead of VII. after the name; they have MM. Pheon, Portcullis crowned. (390). Rud. vii. 3. Sn. iii. 12. MB. and Castle, 2. MB.
The Tower half-groats are also like his father's but have no other MM. than the portcullis. Sn. iii. 11. MB.
The Canterbury half-groats have MM. Pomegranate; at the sides of the shield W. A, for William Wareham, Abp. from 1504 to 1532, and read CIVITAS CANTOR. (391). Rud. vii. 4. MB. Ruding calls the MM. a flower, perhaps a thistle; it has too been called a poppy, but there can be little doubt of its being intended for a pomegranate, adopted by Abp. Wareham in compliment to Queen Catherine of Aragon, whose badge it was; as Cranmer afterwards used the Catherine wheel in compliment to the same Queen. MM. Lis, Rud. Sup. iv. 14. Sn. iii. 16. Similar, but legend POSVI &c. Sn. iii. 15. MM. Martlet, legend POSVI &c. WA above the shield, Rud. vii. 6. Sn. iii. 14. MB.
The York half-groats have the same types and the same variations of legend. Some have a Cardinal's cap and keys under the shield without any initial letters. MM. Cinquefoil. Rud. vii. 5. MB. Letter A? MB. Escallop, or Ermine? Sn. iii. 20. MB. Star. Rud. vii. 7. MB. All these have for legend the name of the mint; those with the star have also the POSVI &c. legend. As they have merely the indications of a Cardinal, without any initials, they were possibly struck by Christopher Bainbridge, Abp. from 1508 to 1515, because, being the first Cardinal, he might consider the initials unnecessary; they may, however, have been struck by Wolsey, Abp. from 1515 to 1531, who was also a Cardinal. One, with X B and MM. a martlet, was clearly struck by Bainbridge, it has the POSVI legend and no hat or keys. This might have been struck before 1511 in which year he was made a Cardinal, Rud. Sup. 4. 15. Sn. iii. 17. Others with the keys, Cardinal's hat, T. W. and name of mint for legend, are clearly struck by Wolsey. MM. cross voided. (392). Sn. iii. 19. MB. lis. Rud. Sup. 4. 16.
The type of the penny is the king seated, rev. armorial shield, the legends being always the king's title and name of the mint. London. MM. Portcullis. (394). Rud. Sup. iv. 13. Sn. iii. 10. MB. or pheon. vi. 24. MB. Durham, without letters or MM. Rud. Sup. iv. 17. or with D. W. for Dunelm Wolsey. MM. mullet, 18. Sn. iii. 18. or with T. D. for Thos. Ruthall. MM. lis. Rud. Sup. iv. 7. Sn. iii. 1. MB.
The halfpenny of the first coinage is not, with certainty, to be distinguished from that of the second; but there is some reason to think that all the first have the king's titles for the legend; though T. C. for Thos. Cranmer upon a Canterbury halfpenny with such a legend, shews that it was also used upon the second coinage, as that prelate did not become Abp. before 1533. A halfpenny with the front face of king with his titles as legend, the cross and pellets upon the reverse with the name of London for legend, and MM. Portcullis, we suppose to belong to this coinage, Rud. vii. 10. Sn. iii. 9. MB. As also a Canterbury halfpenny of similar type and legends, with MM. pomegranate, and W A at the sides of the head. (393). MB.
The farthing of this coinage is extremely rare. It has for type a Portcullis with the king's titles; Rev. a cross with a rose upon the centre, and probably some abbreviation of CIVITAS LONDON; but only one specimen, and that not legible, is known; it was Mr. Dimsdale's, at whose sale it produced £3..5s. Rud. Sup. 2. xvi. 17. (395).
Second Coinage
The second coinage of Henry VIII. took place in his eighteenth year, and is distinguished by bearing his own profile, instead of that of his father, upon the groats and half-groats; and by other differences upon the other coins which will be noticed in the proper place. The standard in this coinage remained the same 11 1/10 oz. fine, 9/10 alloy, but the weight was reduced from 12 grains to 10 2/3 to the penny.
The Tower groat has the profile of Henry VIII., being younger and fuller than that of his father, surrounded by his titles of king of England and France, with various modes and degrees of abbreviation. The reverse has the cross and shield with the POSVI legend. MM. Rose. Rud. vii. 15. MB. Lis. (396). MB. Arrow. Sn. iii. 24. MB. Sun and cloud. MB. Pheon. MB. The York groat has the smae type, but, on the reverse, the Cardinal's hat is under the shield, T. W. for Thos. Wolsey, at the sides, the mint name for legend, and MM. a cross voided, Rud. vii. 16. Sn. iii. 27. MB.
The Tower half-groat resembles the groat in type and legends and has MM. Rose. Rud. vii. 18. Lis. MB. Lis, with rose MM on reverse MB. Arrow. Sn. iii. 23. MB. Sun and cloud. HUNTER.
There are also Canterbury half-groats, with a W A. at the sides of the shield, with MM. on both sides, cross fleuree Rud. vii. 17. MB. the reverse MM. is, sometimes, the letter T. MB. or T on both sides. Sn. iii. 32. MB. or shell. MB. or rose. MB. one of these last reads, by a blunder, CIVITOR CANTOR. MB. or key. SHEPHERD. or rose obverse, and cross fleuree and T on reverse. SHEPHERD. Others with T. C. at the sides for a Thos. Cranmer and MM. Catherine wheel, alluding to Queen Catherine whose cause he espoused. Rud. vii. 20. Sn. iii. 34. MB. All these read on reverse CIVITAS CANTOR.
The York half-groats are also very similar, having at the sides of the shield T. W. a Cardinal's hat below, and MM. a cross on both sides. (397). Rud. vii. 19. Sn. iii. 26. MB. Others have E. L. for Edw. Lee, Abp. from 1531 to 1541, without the Cardinal's had and with MM. a key. Rud. vii. 21. Sn. iii. 29. MB. Sometimes the letters are L. E. Rud. Sup. iv. 20. Sn. iii. 30. MB. All these have the legend CIVITAS EBORACI. Abp. Lee was the last person who used the privilege of placing the initials of his name upon the coins struck under his authority.
To the second coinage we are disposed to assign all those pennies with the type of the king seated upon his throne, which have for legend, variously modified, H. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA, the letter N being often omitted, sometimes other letters; and in one instance, upon a york penny, SPINA is converted to SPIAE. Rud. vii. 8. The reverses are, as those of the former coinage, the cross and shield, with the places of mintage, London or Durham, for legend.
The Tower pennies have for MM. Rose. Rud. vii. 22, MB. Arrow. Sn. iii. 22. MB. Lis. MB.
The Durham pennies have T W at the sides of the shield, and Cardinal's hat below, for Thos. Wolsey, with MM. crescent. Rud. vii. 8. MB. Trefoil. Sn. iii. 25. MB. Star. MB. They have also C. D. at the sides for Cuthbert Tonstall, Bp. from 1530 to 1560. MM. Star. (399). Ru.d vii. 9. MB. A Durham penny also occurs with this MM. without any letters or allusion to any Bishop. MB.
There is one coin with militates against the arbitrary rule which we have proposed for separating the pennies of the first and second coinage: a Canterbury halfpenny with the legend of the king's titles only and the letters T. C. for Thos. Cranmer who was not Abp. till 1533. This must belong to the second period, and shews that, at least at Canterbury, the old legend was retained. Rud. vii. 12. Sn. iii. 33.
The halfpence are formed after the fashion of those of Henry VII. but much smaller, having the full face, crowned, the bust unclothed; Rev. the cross and pellets: the ROSA legend on the obverse, the place of mintage on the reverse.
The Tower MM. are, Rose. Snell. P. 23. Lis. Rud. Sup. iv. 11. 12. MB. Arrow. Rud. vii. 23. Sn. iii. 21. MB.
The Canterbury halfpence have W A for Abp. Wareham, no MM. Rud. vii. 11. Sn. iii. 31. or T. C. for Tho. Cranmer. MM. Catherine wheel. (398). MB. and one, with the king's titles instead of ROSA legend, has T C at the sides, for Tho. Cranmer, and MM. portcullis. Rud. vii. 12. Sn. iii. 33.
The York halfpence have E L for Edw. Lee, and MM. a key. Rud. Sup. iv. 19. Sn. iii. 28. MB.
To this coinage may also be assigned two rare farthings. One has on the obverse a portcullis, MM. an arrow. RVTILANS ROSA. Rev. a rose upon the centre of a cross. HEN. . . . . AG. (400). Rud. Sup. 2. xvi. 24. MB. The other has for reverse a cross with a pellet in each angle H D. GRATI. Rud. 18. Rev. J MARTIN.
Third Coinage
The third coinage of Henry VIII. took place in the 34th year of his reign; with the types underwent some alteration, and the coin was deteriorated both in weight and fineness. The penny now weighed only 10 gr.; and two oz., in twelve, of alloy was used.
This coinage consisted of shillings, groats, half groats, pence, and halfpence. The king is represented with a front or nearly front face, crowned, wearing a royal mantle with a fur collar; the legend contains his titles, including the new one of King of Ireland, HENRICI VIII DI GRA ANGL FRA Z HIB REX.
This type has generally been considered to have been introduced at the same time that the coin was debased, but specimens in fine silver of various denominations contradict this view; they bear however the title of king of Ireland, and must therefore have been struck only just before the debasement. No indenture or proclamation for such a coinage is known, but it is probable that he would not delay displaying his new title of king of Ireland upon his coins: we know he immediately issued Irish coins.
The shillings, or testoons as they were named, have the king's bust, full faced, in royal mantle, fur collar, MM. lis, HENRIC VIII &c. Rev. a rose crowned between the letters H. R. also crowned; the legend POSVI DEVM ADIVTOERIVM. MEVM. MM. two lis, MB. Rud. viii. 2. Sn. iii. 38. These plates have only one lis on the rev. Another in MB. reads ADIVTOREUM. A third with one lis on rev. reads ADITORIVM.
The groat has the same MM. and a similar bust, but the face not quite so full, leg. HENRIC. 8. &c. Rev. cross and shield; an annulet in each fork of the cross. MM. lis, leg. POSVI &c. MB. 3. Rud. viii. 3. Sn. iii. 37.
Half groat same as groat in every respect. Rud. viii. 4. Sn. iii. 36. perhaps also Rud. viii. 13. Sn. iii. 44. MB.
Penny: legend ROSA &c. MM. lis. Rev. shield, CIVITAS LONDON. Rud. viii. 5. Sn. iii. 35. The quality of the metal induces us to assign to this coinage a York penny. Bust mantled, rev. reads CIVITAS EBORACI. MB.
We shall now proceed to describe those pieces, which, from the apparent quality of the metal, seem to have really belonged to the coinage of his 34th year. As the types of these, and of the still further debased coinages of his 36th and 37th years, appear to be in many instances the same, no reliance can be placed upon engravings for distinguishing the separate coinages, and our arrangement will be derived exclusively from pieces actually examined. We cannot however venture to assert that we are always correct, for appearances are deceitful, and we cannot resort to the only true test, an assay.
Shilling: types as in fine silver, but 8 instead of VIII. MM. before leg., a lis; after, annulet enclosing a pellet. Rev. MM. annulet inclosing a pellet. MB. (401). or MM. obv. annulet. Rev. annulet and pellet. Rud. viii. 6.
Groat: similar to that of fine silver. MM. on both sides, lis, annulet inclosing pellet between forks of cross MB. Another, MM. arrow, annulet between forks. Rud. viii. 8. MB. MM. rev. only, a picklock; a half rose between forks of the cross. MB. There are others in which the bust is smaller, not in a royal mantle, but having a plain falling collar, like Rud. viii. 10. MM. lis on both sides, annulet inclosing pellet in each fork. MB. or MM. martlet, some uncertain object in the forks, probably half a rose as in some groats of Canterbury. (402). MB. One with royal mantle, no MM. has S between each fork, leg. CIVITAS LONDON, with two trefoils before and after each word. MB. Sn. iii. 42. not quite correct.
A Bristol groat has mantled bust, WS for mint mark on rev., and two small trefoils after each word; nothing in the forks of the cross. MB.
A Canterbury groat has the bust with the plain collar, no MM, half a rose in each fork, leg. CIVITAS CANTOR, a pellet before and after each word of legend. MB. Another without the pellets. MB.
The York groat has the mantled bust, no MM, nothing in the forks, leg. CIVITAS EBORACI with two trefoils before and after each word. MB. (403). Rud. viii. 9. Another has the plain mantle and falling collar, no MM., one trefoil at the beginning, four in middle of legend. MB.
The half groats which we suppose to belong to this coinage are of Bristol and Canterbury, and perhaps York.
The Bristol one has the mantled bust, no MM.; and in the legend IR erroneously for FR. Rev. shield and cross without any object in the fork; MM. lis, between CIVITAS and BRISTOLIE; and WS, in monogram, at the commencement. (404). MB. Another has a lis between each fork of the cross, one after CIVITAS, and another before BRISTOLIE. MB.
The Canterbury half groat is similar in type to the Bristol, but without any MM. It reads CIVITAS CANTOR. Rud. Sup. iv. 21. Sn. iii. 41. MB.
York: On the authority of Rud. viii. 14. like the groat without the trefoils.
The London penny has the full faced mantled bust, with H. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA--no MM. Rev. CIVITAS LONDON, all in Roman letters. (405). Rud. viii. 16. MB. MM. on rev. picklock. MB. Perhaps Sn. iii. 40. with MM. lis and old English N belong to this coinage.
The Bristol has generally the head smaller, and more of the body shown; the legend commences HE 8 D. G. &c. with a cross after the word ROSA. The rev. has lis between the words CIVITAS and BRISTOLIE, and two pellets at the commencement; all the letters are old English. (406). Rud. viii. 17. MB.
Halfpence of this coinage were struck in London, Canterbury and York. They have all the king's bust, front faced, wearing the royal mantle, and with the ROSA &c. legend. The reverse has the cross fourchee with pellets in the quarters, and the name of the mint for legend. (407). Rud. viii. 18-19. One of the London halfpence has the cross scarcely forked, and upon its centre an annulet inclosing a pellet. MB. (408).
Fourth Coinage
The fourth coinage, or that of the 36th year of Henry VIII. was of a still more debased character than the preceding, being exactly half silver and half alloy; the weight however continued the same, the penny being 10 gr. The type continued the same, with some slight unimportant variations in minor details.
The shilling is like the preceding, MM. annulet inclosing a pellet, the legend reads ADIVTORIVM. MB. Another has MM. on both sides, the old English E. the legend CIVITAS LONDON having at the beginning, middle and end, three balls with three florets to each. (409). MB. Sn. iii. 43. but no MM. Rud. viii. 7. but with LONDONIE instead of London, and no MM.
The groat has the mantled bust, MM. on both sidea, a martlet, leg. POSVI &c., a half rose between the forks of the cross. MB. or MM. on rev. only, a bow, without any object in the forks. Sn. iii. 45. CIVITAS LONDON. MM. Roman E. MB. or with plain mantle, MM. E nothing in the forks of the cross. Rud. viii. 10. MB. Obv. MM. lis? open lozenges between the words. Rev. no MM. English E? between the forks. MB.
The Bristol groat has also mantled bust, no MM. Legend of reverse CIVITAS BRISTOLIE a rose and a lis between the words and WS at the commencement, a lis between the fork of the cross. Rud. viii. 11. MB. This MM. which has been called W, or VY, is really the monogram of WS, intended probably for the initials of William Sharrington, chief officer of the mint at Bristol. Similar but MM. rose at the end of the obv. leg. MB. Another with small cross instead of rose for MM. MB. Another has no MM. on obv. but TL in monogram or perhaps an illformed and imperfect E. rose after CIVITAS. trefoil before BRISTOLIE and also in the forks of the cross. MB.
Canterbury groat: no MM. mantled bust, two trefoils before and after each word on rev. MB.
The York has the mantled bust, no MM. on either side; no object in the forks; but two small trefoils before and after each word of the legend CIVITAS EBORACI. MB.
We cannot distinguish any half groats of this year, all the base ones we have met with appearing to belong to the still baser coinage of next year. Rud. viii. 15. with WS. perhaps belongs to this coinage. The MB. specimen has lis after CIVITAS.
The pennies of this coinage seem to be of the Canterbury mint, and have the mantled bust, no MM. but small open quatrefoils between the words. MB.
Fifth Coinage
The fifth coinage, or that of his 37th year. The shilling of this very base coinage resembles those of his 34th and 36th years. MM. on one or both sides, annulet inclosing a pellet, leg. POSVI &c. MB. One, with MM. S? on the obverse, and E on the reverse, has legend CIVITAS LONDON with ornament exactly like that of his 36th year. MB.
The London groat of this year has the small head, with probably the falling collar, no MM. Rev. shield and cross with an annulet in the forks, leg. REDDE CVIQVE QVOD SVVM EST. or MM. a bow. Rud. viii. 12. MB. or obv. MM. bow. Rev. MM. a picklock. Sn. iii. 46.
The Bristol groat has mantled bust, no MM. Rev. cinquefoil and pierced cross between CIVITAS and BRISTOLIE. MM. WS in monogram: small annulet in forks of cross. MB.
The Canterbury groat has mantled bust, no MM. Rev. annulet in forks of cross. MB. or MM. lis; pierced cross before and after each word of the legend. MB. The Museum specimen is counter marked with a lis within an oval border. Others have the falling collar, no MM. and half a rose in the forks of the cross. MB.
The Rev. E. J. Shepherd mentions having seen a groat certainly of this year, with the legend of the earlier coinages, POSVI &c.
The base half groats, which we have met with, appear to belong to this year. The London ones have the mantled bust, the legend CIVITAS LONDON, sometimes no MM. MB. or. MM. the letter E. with a pierced cross before and after the legend. MB. or two such crosses between CIVITAS and LONDON. MB. Rev. E . J. SHEPHERD.
The Canterbury half groat has the mantled bust, no MM. or any object in the forks of cross. MB.
The York half groat has also the mantled bust, no MM. or object in forks of cross. MB.
Mr. Shepherd also mentions a half groat of this year with the POSVI legend, and bust in a royal mantle; MM. uncertain.
In the collection of the Rev. J. Martin is the half groat with rev. legend REDD. CVIQ QD SVVM EST. (410).
The pennies of this coinage appear to have been struck at London, Canterbury and York.
The London penny resembles that of this 34th year, but has on the reverse a MM. perhaps the letter E. MB. Another, probably unique, in very bad state, appears to have an arrow for MM. The legend of the reverse is RED. CVIQ Q: SV EST. (411). MB.
The Canterbury pennies have the common type and legends without MM. MB. One commences the legend of the reverse at the side instead of, as usual, at the top. MB. One has the three quarter face, plain mantle and falling collar. MM., if any, obliterated. Rev. CIVITAS CANTOR, no MM. MB.
The York penny has also the common type without any MM. or other peculiarity; the MB. one has the three quarter face, plain mantle and falling collar: they read EBORACI. MB.
First Coinage
The different coinages of Henry VIII. vary from each other in type, weight and fineness of metal; they may be well divided into five classes. 1. at the commencement of his reight; 2. at his 18th year; 3. at his 34th year; 4 at his 36th year; 5. at his 37th year.
1. His first coinage exactly resembles that of the last years of his father, for he actually continued his portrait upon the coin, only converting the VII. into VIII. in the legend, and, upon some of the half- groats, giving the names of the mint instead of the usual legend of POSVI, &c. Of this coinage we have the groat, half-groat, penny, half-penny and farthing.
The weight and fineness are the same as before, 11 1/10 fine silver, 9/10 alloy, and the penny weighing 12 grains.
The groats of this coinage have all the POSVI &c. legend, and exactly resemble his father's, except that they have VIII. instead of VII. after the name; they have MM. Pheon, Portcullis crowned. (390). Rud. vii. 3. Sn. iii. 12. MB. and Castle, 2. MB.
The Tower half-groats are also like his father's but have no other MM. than the portcullis. Sn. iii. 11. MB.
The Canterbury half-groats have MM. Pomegranate; at the sides of the shield W. A, for William Wareham, Abp. from 1504 to 1532, and read CIVITAS CANTOR. (391). Rud. vii. 4. MB. Ruding calls the MM. a flower, perhaps a thistle; it has too been called a poppy, but there can be little doubt of its being intended for a pomegranate, adopted by Abp. Wareham in compliment to Queen Catherine of Aragon, whose badge it was; as Cranmer afterwards used the Catherine wheel in compliment to the same Queen. MM. Lis, Rud. Sup. iv. 14. Sn. iii. 16. Similar, but legend POSVI &c. Sn. iii. 15. MM. Martlet, legend POSVI &c. WA above the shield, Rud. vii. 6. Sn. iii. 14. MB.
The York half-groats have the same types and the same variations of legend. Some have a Cardinal's cap and keys under the shield without any initial letters. MM. Cinquefoil. Rud. vii. 5. MB. Letter A? MB. Escallop, or Ermine? Sn. iii. 20. MB. Star. Rud. vii. 7. MB. All these have for legend the name of the mint; those with the star have also the POSVI &c. legend. As they have merely the indications of a Cardinal, without any initials, they were possibly struck by Christopher Bainbridge, Abp. from 1508 to 1515, because, being the first Cardinal, he might consider the initials unnecessary; they may, however, have been struck by Wolsey, Abp. from 1515 to 1531, who was also a Cardinal. One, with X B and MM. a martlet, was clearly struck by Bainbridge, it has the POSVI legend and no hat or keys. This might have been struck before 1511 in which year he was made a Cardinal, Rud. Sup. 4. 15. Sn. iii. 17. Others with the keys, Cardinal's hat, T. W. and name of mint for legend, are clearly struck by Wolsey. MM. cross voided. (392). Sn. iii. 19. MB. lis. Rud. Sup. 4. 16.
The type of the penny is the king seated, rev. armorial shield, the legends being always the king's title and name of the mint. London. MM. Portcullis. (394). Rud. Sup. iv. 13. Sn. iii. 10. MB. or pheon. vi. 24. MB. Durham, without letters or MM. Rud. Sup. iv. 17. or with D. W. for Dunelm Wolsey. MM. mullet, 18. Sn. iii. 18. or with T. D. for Thos. Ruthall. MM. lis. Rud. Sup. iv. 7. Sn. iii. 1. MB.
The halfpenny of the first coinage is not, with certainty, to be distinguished from that of the second; but there is some reason to think that all the first have the king's titles for the legend; though T. C. for Thos. Cranmer upon a Canterbury halfpenny with such a legend, shews that it was also used upon the second coinage, as that prelate did not become Abp. before 1533. A halfpenny with the front face of king with his titles as legend, the cross and pellets upon the reverse with the name of London for legend, and MM. Portcullis, we suppose to belong to this coinage, Rud. vii. 10. Sn. iii. 9. MB. As also a Canterbury halfpenny of similar type and legends, with MM. pomegranate, and W A at the sides of the head. (393). MB.
The farthing of this coinage is extremely rare. It has for type a Portcullis with the king's titles; Rev. a cross with a rose upon the centre, and probably some abbreviation of CIVITAS LONDON; but only one specimen, and that not legible, is known; it was Mr. Dimsdale's, at whose sale it produced £3..5s. Rud. Sup. 2. xvi. 17. (395).
Second Coinage
The second coinage of Henry VIII. took place in his eighteenth year, and is distinguished by bearing his own profile, instead of that of his father, upon the groats and half-groats; and by other differences upon the other coins which will be noticed in the proper place. The standard in this coinage remained the same 11 1/10 oz. fine, 9/10 alloy, but the weight was reduced from 12 grains to 10 2/3 to the penny.
The Tower groat has the profile of Henry VIII., being younger and fuller than that of his father, surrounded by his titles of king of England and France, with various modes and degrees of abbreviation. The reverse has the cross and shield with the POSVI legend. MM. Rose. Rud. vii. 15. MB. Lis. (396). MB. Arrow. Sn. iii. 24. MB. Sun and cloud. MB. Pheon. MB. The York groat has the smae type, but, on the reverse, the Cardinal's hat is under the shield, T. W. for Thos. Wolsey, at the sides, the mint name for legend, and MM. a cross voided, Rud. vii. 16. Sn. iii. 27. MB.
The Tower half-groat resembles the groat in type and legends and has MM. Rose. Rud. vii. 18. Lis. MB. Lis, with rose MM on reverse MB. Arrow. Sn. iii. 23. MB. Sun and cloud. HUNTER.
There are also Canterbury half-groats, with a W A. at the sides of the shield, with MM. on both sides, cross fleuree Rud. vii. 17. MB. the reverse MM. is, sometimes, the letter T. MB. or T on both sides. Sn. iii. 32. MB. or shell. MB. or rose. MB. one of these last reads, by a blunder, CIVITOR CANTOR. MB. or key. SHEPHERD. or rose obverse, and cross fleuree and T on reverse. SHEPHERD. Others with T. C. at the sides for a Thos. Cranmer and MM. Catherine wheel, alluding to Queen Catherine whose cause he espoused. Rud. vii. 20. Sn. iii. 34. MB. All these read on reverse CIVITAS CANTOR.
The York half-groats are also very similar, having at the sides of the shield T. W. a Cardinal's hat below, and MM. a cross on both sides. (397). Rud. vii. 19. Sn. iii. 26. MB. Others have E. L. for Edw. Lee, Abp. from 1531 to 1541, without the Cardinal's had and with MM. a key. Rud. vii. 21. Sn. iii. 29. MB. Sometimes the letters are L. E. Rud. Sup. iv. 20. Sn. iii. 30. MB. All these have the legend CIVITAS EBORACI. Abp. Lee was the last person who used the privilege of placing the initials of his name upon the coins struck under his authority.
To the second coinage we are disposed to assign all those pennies with the type of the king seated upon his throne, which have for legend, variously modified, H. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA, the letter N being often omitted, sometimes other letters; and in one instance, upon a york penny, SPINA is converted to SPIAE. Rud. vii. 8. The reverses are, as those of the former coinage, the cross and shield, with the places of mintage, London or Durham, for legend.
The Tower pennies have for MM. Rose. Rud. vii. 22, MB. Arrow. Sn. iii. 22. MB. Lis. MB.
The Durham pennies have T W at the sides of the shield, and Cardinal's hat below, for Thos. Wolsey, with MM. crescent. Rud. vii. 8. MB. Trefoil. Sn. iii. 25. MB. Star. MB. They have also C. D. at the sides for Cuthbert Tonstall, Bp. from 1530 to 1560. MM. Star. (399). Ru.d vii. 9. MB. A Durham penny also occurs with this MM. without any letters or allusion to any Bishop. MB.
There is one coin with militates against the arbitrary rule which we have proposed for separating the pennies of the first and second coinage: a Canterbury halfpenny with the legend of the king's titles only and the letters T. C. for Thos. Cranmer who was not Abp. till 1533. This must belong to the second period, and shews that, at least at Canterbury, the old legend was retained. Rud. vii. 12. Sn. iii. 33.
The halfpence are formed after the fashion of those of Henry VII. but much smaller, having the full face, crowned, the bust unclothed; Rev. the cross and pellets: the ROSA legend on the obverse, the place of mintage on the reverse.
The Tower MM. are, Rose. Snell. P. 23. Lis. Rud. Sup. iv. 11. 12. MB. Arrow. Rud. vii. 23. Sn. iii. 21. MB.
The Canterbury halfpence have W A for Abp. Wareham, no MM. Rud. vii. 11. Sn. iii. 31. or T. C. for Tho. Cranmer. MM. Catherine wheel. (398). MB. and one, with the king's titles instead of ROSA legend, has T C at the sides, for Tho. Cranmer, and MM. portcullis. Rud. vii. 12. Sn. iii. 33.
The York halfpence have E L for Edw. Lee, and MM. a key. Rud. Sup. iv. 19. Sn. iii. 28. MB.
To this coinage may also be assigned two rare farthings. One has on the obverse a portcullis, MM. an arrow. RVTILANS ROSA. Rev. a rose upon the centre of a cross. HEN. . . . . AG. (400). Rud. Sup. 2. xvi. 24. MB. The other has for reverse a cross with a pellet in each angle H D. GRATI. Rud. 18. Rev. J MARTIN.
Third Coinage
The third coinage of Henry VIII. took place in the 34th year of his reign; with the types underwent some alteration, and the coin was deteriorated both in weight and fineness. The penny now weighed only 10 gr.; and two oz., in twelve, of alloy was used.
This coinage consisted of shillings, groats, half groats, pence, and halfpence. The king is represented with a front or nearly front face, crowned, wearing a royal mantle with a fur collar; the legend contains his titles, including the new one of King of Ireland, HENRICI VIII DI GRA ANGL FRA Z HIB REX.
This type has generally been considered to have been introduced at the same time that the coin was debased, but specimens in fine silver of various denominations contradict this view; they bear however the title of king of Ireland, and must therefore have been struck only just before the debasement. No indenture or proclamation for such a coinage is known, but it is probable that he would not delay displaying his new title of king of Ireland upon his coins: we know he immediately issued Irish coins.
The shillings, or testoons as they were named, have the king's bust, full faced, in royal mantle, fur collar, MM. lis, HENRIC VIII &c. Rev. a rose crowned between the letters H. R. also crowned; the legend POSVI DEVM ADIVTOERIVM. MEVM. MM. two lis, MB. Rud. viii. 2. Sn. iii. 38. These plates have only one lis on the rev. Another in MB. reads ADIVTOREUM. A third with one lis on rev. reads ADITORIVM.
The groat has the same MM. and a similar bust, but the face not quite so full, leg. HENRIC. 8. &c. Rev. cross and shield; an annulet in each fork of the cross. MM. lis, leg. POSVI &c. MB. 3. Rud. viii. 3. Sn. iii. 37.
Half groat same as groat in every respect. Rud. viii. 4. Sn. iii. 36. perhaps also Rud. viii. 13. Sn. iii. 44. MB.
Penny: legend ROSA &c. MM. lis. Rev. shield, CIVITAS LONDON. Rud. viii. 5. Sn. iii. 35. The quality of the metal induces us to assign to this coinage a York penny. Bust mantled, rev. reads CIVITAS EBORACI. MB.
We shall now proceed to describe those pieces, which, from the apparent quality of the metal, seem to have really belonged to the coinage of his 34th year. As the types of these, and of the still further debased coinages of his 36th and 37th years, appear to be in many instances the same, no reliance can be placed upon engravings for distinguishing the separate coinages, and our arrangement will be derived exclusively from pieces actually examined. We cannot however venture to assert that we are always correct, for appearances are deceitful, and we cannot resort to the only true test, an assay.
Shilling: types as in fine silver, but 8 instead of VIII. MM. before leg., a lis; after, annulet enclosing a pellet. Rev. MM. annulet inclosing a pellet. MB. (401). or MM. obv. annulet. Rev. annulet and pellet. Rud. viii. 6.
Groat: similar to that of fine silver. MM. on both sides, lis, annulet inclosing pellet between forks of cross MB. Another, MM. arrow, annulet between forks. Rud. viii. 8. MB. MM. rev. only, a picklock; a half rose between forks of the cross. MB. There are others in which the bust is smaller, not in a royal mantle, but having a plain falling collar, like Rud. viii. 10. MM. lis on both sides, annulet inclosing pellet in each fork. MB. or MM. martlet, some uncertain object in the forks, probably half a rose as in some groats of Canterbury. (402). MB. One with royal mantle, no MM. has S between each fork, leg. CIVITAS LONDON, with two trefoils before and after each word. MB. Sn. iii. 42. not quite correct.
A Bristol groat has mantled bust, WS for mint mark on rev., and two small trefoils after each word; nothing in the forks of the cross. MB.
A Canterbury groat has the bust with the plain collar, no MM, half a rose in each fork, leg. CIVITAS CANTOR, a pellet before and after each word of legend. MB. Another without the pellets. MB.
The York groat has the mantled bust, no MM, nothing in the forks, leg. CIVITAS EBORACI with two trefoils before and after each word. MB. (403). Rud. viii. 9. Another has the plain mantle and falling collar, no MM., one trefoil at the beginning, four in middle of legend. MB.
The half groats which we suppose to belong to this coinage are of Bristol and Canterbury, and perhaps York.
The Bristol one has the mantled bust, no MM.; and in the legend IR erroneously for FR. Rev. shield and cross without any object in the fork; MM. lis, between CIVITAS and BRISTOLIE; and WS, in monogram, at the commencement. (404). MB. Another has a lis between each fork of the cross, one after CIVITAS, and another before BRISTOLIE. MB.
The Canterbury half groat is similar in type to the Bristol, but without any MM. It reads CIVITAS CANTOR. Rud. Sup. iv. 21. Sn. iii. 41. MB.
York: On the authority of Rud. viii. 14. like the groat without the trefoils.
The London penny has the full faced mantled bust, with H. D. G. ROSA SINE SPINA--no MM. Rev. CIVITAS LONDON, all in Roman letters. (405). Rud. viii. 16. MB. MM. on rev. picklock. MB. Perhaps Sn. iii. 40. with MM. lis and old English N belong to this coinage.
The Bristol has generally the head smaller, and more of the body shown; the legend commences HE 8 D. G. &c. with a cross after the word ROSA. The rev. has lis between the words CIVITAS and BRISTOLIE, and two pellets at the commencement; all the letters are old English. (406). Rud. viii. 17. MB.
Halfpence of this coinage were struck in London, Canterbury and York. They have all the king's bust, front faced, wearing the royal mantle, and with the ROSA &c. legend. The reverse has the cross fourchee with pellets in the quarters, and the name of the mint for legend. (407). Rud. viii. 18-19. One of the London halfpence has the cross scarcely forked, and upon its centre an annulet inclosing a pellet. MB. (408).
Fourth Coinage
The fourth coinage, or that of the 36th year of Henry VIII. was of a still more debased character than the preceding, being exactly half silver and half alloy; the weight however continued the same, the penny being 10 gr. The type continued the same, with some slight unimportant variations in minor details.
The shilling is like the preceding, MM. annulet inclosing a pellet, the legend reads ADIVTORIVM. MB. Another has MM. on both sides, the old English E. the legend CIVITAS LONDON having at the beginning, middle and end, three balls with three florets to each. (409). MB. Sn. iii. 43. but no MM. Rud. viii. 7. but with LONDONIE instead of London, and no MM.
The groat has the mantled bust, MM. on both sidea, a martlet, leg. POSVI &c., a half rose between the forks of the cross. MB. or MM. on rev. only, a bow, without any object in the forks. Sn. iii. 45. CIVITAS LONDON. MM. Roman E. MB. or with plain mantle, MM. E nothing in the forks of the cross. Rud. viii. 10. MB. Obv. MM. lis? open lozenges between the words. Rev. no MM. English E? between the forks. MB.
The Bristol groat has also mantled bust, no MM. Legend of reverse CIVITAS BRISTOLIE a rose and a lis between the words and WS at the commencement, a lis between the fork of the cross. Rud. viii. 11. MB. This MM. which has been called W, or VY, is really the monogram of WS, intended probably for the initials of William Sharrington, chief officer of the mint at Bristol. Similar but MM. rose at the end of the obv. leg. MB. Another with small cross instead of rose for MM. MB. Another has no MM. on obv. but TL in monogram or perhaps an illformed and imperfect E. rose after CIVITAS. trefoil before BRISTOLIE and also in the forks of the cross. MB.
Canterbury groat: no MM. mantled bust, two trefoils before and after each word on rev. MB.
The York has the mantled bust, no MM. on either side; no object in the forks; but two small trefoils before and after each word of the legend CIVITAS EBORACI. MB.
We cannot distinguish any half groats of this year, all the base ones we have met with appearing to belong to the still baser coinage of next year. Rud. viii. 15. with WS. perhaps belongs to this coinage. The MB. specimen has lis after CIVITAS.
The pennies of this coinage seem to be of the Canterbury mint, and have the mantled bust, no MM. but small open quatrefoils between the words. MB.
Fifth Coinage
The fifth coinage, or that of his 37th year. The shilling of this very base coinage resembles those of his 34th and 36th years. MM. on one or both sides, annulet inclosing a pellet, leg. POSVI &c. MB. One, with MM. S? on the obverse, and E on the reverse, has legend CIVITAS LONDON with ornament exactly like that of his 36th year. MB.
The London groat of this year has the small head, with probably the falling collar, no MM. Rev. shield and cross with an annulet in the forks, leg. REDDE CVIQVE QVOD SVVM EST. or MM. a bow. Rud. viii. 12. MB. or obv. MM. bow. Rev. MM. a picklock. Sn. iii. 46.
The Bristol groat has mantled bust, no MM. Rev. cinquefoil and pierced cross between CIVITAS and BRISTOLIE. MM. WS in monogram: small annulet in forks of cross. MB.
The Canterbury groat has mantled bust, no MM. Rev. annulet in forks of cross. MB. or MM. lis; pierced cross before and after each word of the legend. MB. The Museum specimen is counter marked with a lis within an oval border. Others have the falling collar, no MM. and half a rose in the forks of the cross. MB.
The Rev. E. J. Shepherd mentions having seen a groat certainly of this year, with the legend of the earlier coinages, POSVI &c.
The base half groats, which we have met with, appear to belong to this year. The London ones have the mantled bust, the legend CIVITAS LONDON, sometimes no MM. MB. or. MM. the letter E. with a pierced cross before and after the legend. MB. or two such crosses between CIVITAS and LONDON. MB. Rev. E . J. SHEPHERD.
The Canterbury half groat has the mantled bust, no MM. or any object in the forks of cross. MB.
The York half groat has also the mantled bust, no MM. or object in forks of cross. MB.
Mr. Shepherd also mentions a half groat of this year with the POSVI legend, and bust in a royal mantle; MM. uncertain.
In the collection of the Rev. J. Martin is the half groat with rev. legend REDD. CVIQ QD SVVM EST. (410).
The pennies of this coinage appear to have been struck at London, Canterbury and York.
The London penny resembles that of this 34th year, but has on the reverse a MM. perhaps the letter E. MB. Another, probably unique, in very bad state, appears to have an arrow for MM. The legend of the reverse is RED. CVIQ Q: SV EST. (411). MB.
The Canterbury pennies have the common type and legends without MM. MB. One commences the legend of the reverse at the side instead of, as usual, at the top. MB. One has the three quarter face, plain mantle and falling collar. MM., if any, obliterated. Rev. CIVITAS CANTOR, no MM. MB.
The York penny has also the common type without any MM. or other peculiarity; the MB. one has the three quarter face, plain mantle and falling collar: they read EBORACI. MB.