King Henry VII., 1485 to 1509.
First Coinage
Considerable uncertainty has prevailed respecting the earliest coinage of Henry VII. As late as Leake's time, part of the front faced money with the arched crown was considered as belonging to Henry VI.; latterly the coins with the arched crown have all been assigned to Henry VII., and all with the open crown to some one of his predecessors of that name. Bust as some varieties of these weight in the proportion of only 12 gr. to the penny, which standard was not adopted till after the abdication of Henry VI., it is evident all these must have been struck during the seven months of his restoration. This appeared very improbable, and some numismatists therefore suspected that part of these varieties must have been struck by Henry VII.
Every lurking doubt that might have remained respecting the existence of open crowned coins of Henry VII., has been removed by the numismatic sagacity and good fortune of Mr. Cuff, who immediately assigned to that king a York penny with an open crown, MM, rose, having T at one side of the neck and T on the other. This coin was certainly struck by Thomas Rotherham, who did not become Abp. before 1480, many years after the death of Henry VI., no was there any Abp. during the reigns of the previous Henries to whom that initial could belong. Another, weight 11 3/4 gr. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. He has also one with T at each side of the head without the key, weight 8 3/4. (370). Another variety, from the same mint, and same MM. has a T at one side of the neck and a lis at the other, with H. in the centre of the rev. MB. (367). Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. CUFF.
With these facts before us we may consider it as established beyond controversy, that Henry VII. did strike coins with an open crown, and that consequently there are three classes of his coins which strikingly differ from each other. The type of his first coinage resembles that of his predecessors, having the front face and open crown, with the cross and pellets on the reverse; then succeeded the front faced money with the arched crown and similar reverse; and thirdly the profile head with the armorial shield of England upon the reverse.
We may now proceed to describe those coins of the first type which, from the form of the crown, character of the countenance, their weight, and peculiar marks, we consider must be ascribed to this king.
Groats: London: not common. MM. rose, HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC. a small cross at each side of neck, a small trefoil after POSVI. MB. Wt. 42. gr. Rud. iv. 21. Another with a small cross after POSVI. MB. Weight 42 gr. MM. upon both sides, lis upon rose, no cross or trefoil after POSVI. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. Wt. 45 gr. Similar to last but cross after POSVI, no crosses at side of neck. MB. Wt. 44 ½ gr. Another differs only from the last in having two crosses at the end of the legend on obv. (362). MB. Wt. 42 ½ gr. Another Wt. 41 gr. Another, no rose on breast, and the obv. MM. a plain cross. MB. 44 gr.
MM. cross fitchee, HENRICVS DEI GRA REX ANGL Z FR with two crosses at the end, cross at each side of neck, a small cross before POSVI. MB. in perfect preservation, 48 gr. (361). Rud. Sup. ii. 19. MB.
Hitherto there have not been any groats discovered of this first coinage of Henry VII. from any other mint than London.
Half groats were struck at London, Canterbury, York. Bristol?
Canterbury: MM. Ton. HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRA. Cross at each side of neck, M. in centre of rev., after POSVI eye of Providence. MB. (363). Another without the eye, trefoil before TAS. MB. both rather scarce. This coin has been generally considered as struck by Abp. Morton, who held the See from 1487 to 1501, from there having been another half groat identically the same in every respect, except that the crown was arched. Still doubts were entertained, because the idea was so firmly fixed in most minds that the arched crown was the first type of Henry VII. Now however that this error is dispelled, there can be no doubt but that the above mentioned half groat with the open crown is a coin of Henry VII.
MM. rose, lis at each side of neck, pellet? on breast, M. in centre of reverse. Rud. Sup. iii. 23. Another without lis or pellet. Sn. ii. 33.
London: MM. lis upono rose, HENRIC DEO GRA REX ANGL Z F. (364). MB. v. r. There is another London coinage which closely resembles those of York, and are all remarkable for the rosettes, which are profusely introduced into the legens, HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z F FR. or FRA. MM. lis. a rosette between every word, rosette before ADVITORE (sic) and MEV. Lozenge enclosing a pellet in centre of cross. MB. Another similar reads FRA and has rosettes also before CIVITAS, and LONDON. MB. Another has two rosettes between CIVITAS and LONDON. (365). MB. and another has also a rosette after London, MB. another has a rosette before and after CIVITAS and LONDON. MB. another with obverse MM. obliterated, has reverse MM. rosette, but no rosette in the inner legend. MB. The crosses upon the reverses are fourchee like those upon the known later coins of Henry VII. and it will be remarked how closely the rosy pieces resemble a series of half-groats with the arched crown.
York: HENRICI DI GRA REX AGLI Z FRAN. rosette between each word, one also before ADIVTORE. and MEVM, one before and after CIVITAS, one before EBORACI. The cross fourchee, having a lozenge inclosing a pellet in the centre. MM. on both sides, lis. MB. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z F. MM. lis, rosettes between each word. Rev. MM. cross, not any rosettes. Rud. Sup. ii. 22. ANGL Z FR. rosettes in legends; two between CIVITAS and EBORACI. Sir. H. ELLIS. ANGL Z FRAN. Similar to last, but a rosette also before CIVITAS. MB.
Pennies: The York pieces have been already described. Some were struck at Canterbury. MM. Ton. HENRIC--REX ANGL. cross at each side of neck, and M. in the centre of the Rev. (366). MB. v. r.
Halfpenny: HENRIC DI GRA REX. CIVITAS LONDON. MM. lis upon rose. (368). Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. To this king probably belong the halfpennies reading DI GRA REX with a cross at each side of neck. MM. cross, pellets on reverse united. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. (369). Another with three pellets instead of cross on each side of neck. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD.
Second Coinage
The second coinage of Henry VII. consisted of groats, half-groats, pennies and halfpennies. It differs, upon the obverse, from his own and his predecessor's money in having the crown arched and the face something more like a portrait; the reverse is much the same as before, except that the workmanship is improved, and the ends of the cross generally forked and decorated. All the coinage of this reign were of the weight established in the fourth of Edward IV. namely 12 grains to the penny.
Groats: all struck in London, HENRIC DI GRA REX AGL, ANG, ANGL, ANGLI, ANGLIE Z F. FR. FRA. FRANC or FRANCI, on the reverse the final M is generally omitted in each word of the exterior legend. The mint marks are 1. Greyhound's head. Rud. vi. 2. (373). 2. Anchor. Rud. vi. 1. 3. Escallop, f. 3, rosette between each word of legend on obverse, one in each fork of the cross, two before and one after LONDON, one after CIVITAS. MB. No rosette in the forks, two before CIVITAS, one before LONDON. MB. Rosette between each word, at end of legend in obverse and in the spandrils of the tressure, one after DEVM, two before and after LONDON, two before and after CIVITAS, none in the forks of the cross, the form of the E. peculiar. MB. (372). Very similar, same form of E. but no rosettes in spandrils. MB. 4. Cross crosslet, Rud. vi. 4. 5. Very small trefoil on reverse. MB. 6. Trefoil or half a lis issuing from half a rose. (381), MM. reverse, heraldic cinquefoil. MB. 7. Heraldic cinquefoil. (380). 8. Cinquefoil f. 6. The MB. specimen reads FR and has the cinquefoil pierced. (379). 9. Leopard's head crowned. Rud. Sup. iii. 34. The two last sometimes appear upon the same coin. Sn. ii. 47. On some of the small trefoil coins there is a cross at the side of the neck. (371). Rud. vi. 5, had probably the small trefoil MM. it only occurs on reverses, and the obverse only is there engraved. The groat with the cross crosslet mint mark, and some of those with the greyhound's head, had the crown with a single arch, and are rather rare. (373). There is one groat which varies from all the others in omitting the pellets and substituting a large portcullis upon the centre of the cross. MM. on Rev. lis. Rud. Sup. 2. xvi. 16. Mr. Dimsdale's was purchased for Mr. Thomas in 1824, probably unique.
Half-groats were struck in London, Canterbury and York, the king's titles being similar but generally shorter than on the groats.
London: MM. on both sides lis. HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGLI Z FR. rosette between every word, also on the reverse after Devm and ADIVTOE, cross fourchee, with lozenge in the centre inclosing pellet. MB. (374.) This clearly resembles the rosy half-groat with open crown, without MM. Rud. vi. 7. we have not seen, nor Sn. ii. 46. which we have no doubt is a blundered representation of a Canterbury coin.
Canterbury: MM. none, cross at each side of neck. Rev. the cross patee, M on the centre, eye of Providence (382). after POSVI. very closely resembling the open crown half-groat, MB. See Rud. Sup. iii. 35. where the small crosses, and eye are omitted, perhaps accidentally; we have not seen such a coin. MM. Ton, the cross fourchee, no M or eye. MB. Rud. vi. 8. Sometimes a cinquefoil is with the ton on the obverse. MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 1. MM. obverse ton. rosette between each word. Rev. MM. lis. rosette before ADIVTORE and MEV. after CIVITAS. two small dots before and after CANTOR. MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 5.* One without the dots reads CASTOR. MB. MM. Obverse ton and lis rosette between each word, at end of legend of obverse and outer legend of reverse. MB. MM. obverse lis? trefoils instead of rosettes between each word. Rev. MM. lis. rosette before ADIVTORE and MEV, two before CIVITAS and before CANTOR.
York: MM. Martlet; key at each side of neck. (375). Rud. vi. 10. Sn. ii. 45. We have not seen one with a cross upon the king's breast, distinct from the ornament of the tressure; as Rud. vi. 9. Some are without the tressure of arches round the head, Rud. Sup. iv. 3. and of these some commence the outer legend on the reverse over CIVITAS. MB. some over EBORACI. MB.
The pennies of this coinage appear to have been struck at Canterbury alone, and are extremely rare. The legend omits the name of France. The cross is forked. MM. on both sides a ton. (376). MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 2.
Halfpence of this coinage are also extremely rare, but occur of London, Canterbury and York.
London: MM. lis. H. D. G. REX ANGLIE Z FRA. Rud. Sup. iv. 10. Sn. iii. 4. CUFF. MB. another, but legend not satisfactorily legible. Rud. Sup. iv. 9. copied from Sn. ii. 44. has the open crown; but we suspect this to be an error, occasioned by the arch upon the specimen copied not being sufficiently visible.
Canterbury: HENRIC DI GRA REX A or AN. MM. none. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. MM. lis. CUFF. MM. lis on both sides, rosettes between the words of the legend on obverse. (378). MB.
York: like those of Canterbury. MM. doubtful, under the bust a key. (377). MB. Rud. vi. 26. MM. cross voided. MB.
Farthing: Mr. Cuff has one, but no MM. or legend is perceptible. Sn. ii. 43.
Third Coinage
In his eighteenth year, Henry VII. issued a new coinage, which is here considered his third, of workmanship superior to the preceding and of different types, but of the same weight and fineness. It consisted of shillings, groats, half-groats and pennies.
The shilling was the first coin of that denomination which was issued in England. It weighed twelve pennies or 144 grains. The obverse represents a profile of the king, wearing an arched crown. The titles are HENRIC or HENRICVS DI GRA REX ANGLIE Z FR. or FRANC. On the reverse is displayed, for the first time, the royal shield, bearing quarterly the arms of France and England upon a cross fourchee, with a lis or a trefoil between the forks; the exterior legend continued the same as upon the former coinages, but the interior legend, consisting of the name of the mint was discontinued. MB. Rud. vi. 18. 20. Mr. Dimsdale's sold for £8. 8s. One variety adds VII. after the king's name and reads ANGL Z FR. (383). MB. It is extremely rare. Another reads SEPTIM instead of VII. MB. Rud. vi. 19. Sn. iii. 8. This is extremely rare. These are the first instances in which the number is annexed to the king's name, except in the reign of Henry III. All these pieces have MM. lis.
The type of the groat is similar to that of the shilling. The legends vary in the same manner, and the numerals VII. and the word SEPTIM both occur on them The lis is the MM. on the reverse of that with SEPTIM (384.) This coin is extremely scarce, supposed unique, and was bought for the Museum at Willet's sale, 1827. Those with VII. have MM. Cross crosslet, MB. Pheon, Rud. vi. 17. 21. MB. Greyhound's head, MB. and Lis. 16. Sn. iii. 7. One in the British Museum without the numerals reads HENRICVS. MM. lis. All with numerals read HENRIC.
The half-groat is similar to the groat, with and without numerals; none has occurred with the word SEPTIM. The MM. are the Lis, Rud. vi. 14. Sn. iii. 6. Cinquefoil, 15. Martlet, (385). of these the MB. has two, one weighs 28 grains, the other full 24. Pheon. Rud. vi. 22. MB. Those struck at York have two keys below the shield upon the reverse, and have MM. a martlet. Rud. vi. 23. sometimes a cinquefoil on the obverse, and a martlet on the reverse (386).
The pennies of this coinage have the king seated upon his throne, crowned, holding a sceptre and orb; his titles as on the larger coins, omitting France. The legend of the reverse consists of the name of the city where the coin was struck, Durham, York and London.
On the reverse of the Durham pennies, letters at the side of the shield indicate the Bishop by whose authority they were struck, as D. S. for Dunelmensis Sherwood? MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 8. Sn. iii. 2. or I. S. for John Sherwood, who was Bishop from 1483 to 1494. Rud. Sup. ; iv. 5. The upper limb of the cross on the reverse terminates in a crozier, and the MM. of the obverse is a crozier issuing from the king's left hand; at least upon the former coin (387), the latter we have not seen and Ruding's plate only gives the reverse. In Rud. vi. 25. a similar coin is given but no letters appear and all the limbs of the cross are fourchee. Upon other Durham pennies are the letters R. D. for Ricardus (Fox) Dunelm, Bishop from 1494 to 1502. MB. Rud. vi. 12. The upper limb of the cross terminates in a mitre, over a coronet, and sometimes the arm of the throne in a rosette, MB. or a cross, SIR H. ELLIS. The letters DR, which are given in Rud. Sup. iv. 6. Sn. iii. 3, may indicate the same Bishop, or perhaps Ruthall, Bishop from 1508 to 1524, or about one year during the reign of Henry VII. MB. (388).
The York pennies are generally without MM. and where we have seen one it was too indistinct to be described. The throne varies in form and decorations, sometimes is without a back, and in some pieces the king holds the sceptre in his left hand, the orb in his right. (389). Rud. Sup. iv. 4. Two keys are always under the shield on the reverse. Rud. vi. 11. MB.
There are pennies of similar type struck in London and probably by this king, but the work so much resembles some of which must have been struck in the reign of his successor that there is some difficulty in ascribing these correctly. The only difference perceptible is the form of the king's throne; upon those pennies of Durham which, by the initials of cotemporary Bishops, are limited to the time of Henry VII. the backs of the chair are expressed by one thick line, surmounted by an ornament, not reaching to the inner circle of the coin. Upon those pennies which in the smae manner are limited to the time of Henry VIII. these lines are double, and reach up to the inner circle; they are also, perhaps, rather more neatly executed. According to this principle, slight as it is, we ahve arranged these pennies. One of this description with the name of London has a very small cross in the place of MM. MB. Another has MM. lis. Rud. vi. 13. Sn. iii. 5.
First Coinage
Considerable uncertainty has prevailed respecting the earliest coinage of Henry VII. As late as Leake's time, part of the front faced money with the arched crown was considered as belonging to Henry VI.; latterly the coins with the arched crown have all been assigned to Henry VII., and all with the open crown to some one of his predecessors of that name. Bust as some varieties of these weight in the proportion of only 12 gr. to the penny, which standard was not adopted till after the abdication of Henry VI., it is evident all these must have been struck during the seven months of his restoration. This appeared very improbable, and some numismatists therefore suspected that part of these varieties must have been struck by Henry VII.
Every lurking doubt that might have remained respecting the existence of open crowned coins of Henry VII., has been removed by the numismatic sagacity and good fortune of Mr. Cuff, who immediately assigned to that king a York penny with an open crown, MM, rose, having T at one side of the neck and T on the other. This coin was certainly struck by Thomas Rotherham, who did not become Abp. before 1480, many years after the death of Henry VI., no was there any Abp. during the reigns of the previous Henries to whom that initial could belong. Another, weight 11 3/4 gr. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. He has also one with T at each side of the head without the key, weight 8 3/4. (370). Another variety, from the same mint, and same MM. has a T at one side of the neck and a lis at the other, with H. in the centre of the rev. MB. (367). Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. CUFF.
With these facts before us we may consider it as established beyond controversy, that Henry VII. did strike coins with an open crown, and that consequently there are three classes of his coins which strikingly differ from each other. The type of his first coinage resembles that of his predecessors, having the front face and open crown, with the cross and pellets on the reverse; then succeeded the front faced money with the arched crown and similar reverse; and thirdly the profile head with the armorial shield of England upon the reverse.
We may now proceed to describe those coins of the first type which, from the form of the crown, character of the countenance, their weight, and peculiar marks, we consider must be ascribed to this king.
Groats: London: not common. MM. rose, HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC. a small cross at each side of neck, a small trefoil after POSVI. MB. Wt. 42. gr. Rud. iv. 21. Another with a small cross after POSVI. MB. Weight 42 gr. MM. upon both sides, lis upon rose, no cross or trefoil after POSVI. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. Wt. 45 gr. Similar to last but cross after POSVI, no crosses at side of neck. MB. Wt. 44 ½ gr. Another differs only from the last in having two crosses at the end of the legend on obv. (362). MB. Wt. 42 ½ gr. Another Wt. 41 gr. Another, no rose on breast, and the obv. MM. a plain cross. MB. 44 gr.
MM. cross fitchee, HENRICVS DEI GRA REX ANGL Z FR with two crosses at the end, cross at each side of neck, a small cross before POSVI. MB. in perfect preservation, 48 gr. (361). Rud. Sup. ii. 19. MB.
Hitherto there have not been any groats discovered of this first coinage of Henry VII. from any other mint than London.
Half groats were struck at London, Canterbury, York. Bristol?
Canterbury: MM. Ton. HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRA. Cross at each side of neck, M. in centre of rev., after POSVI eye of Providence. MB. (363). Another without the eye, trefoil before TAS. MB. both rather scarce. This coin has been generally considered as struck by Abp. Morton, who held the See from 1487 to 1501, from there having been another half groat identically the same in every respect, except that the crown was arched. Still doubts were entertained, because the idea was so firmly fixed in most minds that the arched crown was the first type of Henry VII. Now however that this error is dispelled, there can be no doubt but that the above mentioned half groat with the open crown is a coin of Henry VII.
MM. rose, lis at each side of neck, pellet? on breast, M. in centre of reverse. Rud. Sup. iii. 23. Another without lis or pellet. Sn. ii. 33.
London: MM. lis upono rose, HENRIC DEO GRA REX ANGL Z F. (364). MB. v. r. There is another London coinage which closely resembles those of York, and are all remarkable for the rosettes, which are profusely introduced into the legens, HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z F FR. or FRA. MM. lis. a rosette between every word, rosette before ADVITORE (sic) and MEV. Lozenge enclosing a pellet in centre of cross. MB. Another similar reads FRA and has rosettes also before CIVITAS, and LONDON. MB. Another has two rosettes between CIVITAS and LONDON. (365). MB. and another has also a rosette after London, MB. another has a rosette before and after CIVITAS and LONDON. MB. another with obverse MM. obliterated, has reverse MM. rosette, but no rosette in the inner legend. MB. The crosses upon the reverses are fourchee like those upon the known later coins of Henry VII. and it will be remarked how closely the rosy pieces resemble a series of half-groats with the arched crown.
York: HENRICI DI GRA REX AGLI Z FRAN. rosette between each word, one also before ADIVTORE. and MEVM, one before and after CIVITAS, one before EBORACI. The cross fourchee, having a lozenge inclosing a pellet in the centre. MM. on both sides, lis. MB. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z F. MM. lis, rosettes between each word. Rev. MM. cross, not any rosettes. Rud. Sup. ii. 22. ANGL Z FR. rosettes in legends; two between CIVITAS and EBORACI. Sir. H. ELLIS. ANGL Z FRAN. Similar to last, but a rosette also before CIVITAS. MB.
Pennies: The York pieces have been already described. Some were struck at Canterbury. MM. Ton. HENRIC--REX ANGL. cross at each side of neck, and M. in the centre of the Rev. (366). MB. v. r.
Halfpenny: HENRIC DI GRA REX. CIVITAS LONDON. MM. lis upon rose. (368). Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. To this king probably belong the halfpennies reading DI GRA REX with a cross at each side of neck. MM. cross, pellets on reverse united. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. (369). Another with three pellets instead of cross on each side of neck. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD.
Second Coinage
The second coinage of Henry VII. consisted of groats, half-groats, pennies and halfpennies. It differs, upon the obverse, from his own and his predecessor's money in having the crown arched and the face something more like a portrait; the reverse is much the same as before, except that the workmanship is improved, and the ends of the cross generally forked and decorated. All the coinage of this reign were of the weight established in the fourth of Edward IV. namely 12 grains to the penny.
Groats: all struck in London, HENRIC DI GRA REX AGL, ANG, ANGL, ANGLI, ANGLIE Z F. FR. FRA. FRANC or FRANCI, on the reverse the final M is generally omitted in each word of the exterior legend. The mint marks are 1. Greyhound's head. Rud. vi. 2. (373). 2. Anchor. Rud. vi. 1. 3. Escallop, f. 3, rosette between each word of legend on obverse, one in each fork of the cross, two before and one after LONDON, one after CIVITAS. MB. No rosette in the forks, two before CIVITAS, one before LONDON. MB. Rosette between each word, at end of legend in obverse and in the spandrils of the tressure, one after DEVM, two before and after LONDON, two before and after CIVITAS, none in the forks of the cross, the form of the E. peculiar. MB. (372). Very similar, same form of E. but no rosettes in spandrils. MB. 4. Cross crosslet, Rud. vi. 4. 5. Very small trefoil on reverse. MB. 6. Trefoil or half a lis issuing from half a rose. (381), MM. reverse, heraldic cinquefoil. MB. 7. Heraldic cinquefoil. (380). 8. Cinquefoil f. 6. The MB. specimen reads FR and has the cinquefoil pierced. (379). 9. Leopard's head crowned. Rud. Sup. iii. 34. The two last sometimes appear upon the same coin. Sn. ii. 47. On some of the small trefoil coins there is a cross at the side of the neck. (371). Rud. vi. 5, had probably the small trefoil MM. it only occurs on reverses, and the obverse only is there engraved. The groat with the cross crosslet mint mark, and some of those with the greyhound's head, had the crown with a single arch, and are rather rare. (373). There is one groat which varies from all the others in omitting the pellets and substituting a large portcullis upon the centre of the cross. MM. on Rev. lis. Rud. Sup. 2. xvi. 16. Mr. Dimsdale's was purchased for Mr. Thomas in 1824, probably unique.
Half-groats were struck in London, Canterbury and York, the king's titles being similar but generally shorter than on the groats.
London: MM. on both sides lis. HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGLI Z FR. rosette between every word, also on the reverse after Devm and ADIVTOE, cross fourchee, with lozenge in the centre inclosing pellet. MB. (374.) This clearly resembles the rosy half-groat with open crown, without MM. Rud. vi. 7. we have not seen, nor Sn. ii. 46. which we have no doubt is a blundered representation of a Canterbury coin.
Canterbury: MM. none, cross at each side of neck. Rev. the cross patee, M on the centre, eye of Providence (382). after POSVI. very closely resembling the open crown half-groat, MB. See Rud. Sup. iii. 35. where the small crosses, and eye are omitted, perhaps accidentally; we have not seen such a coin. MM. Ton, the cross fourchee, no M or eye. MB. Rud. vi. 8. Sometimes a cinquefoil is with the ton on the obverse. MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 1. MM. obverse ton. rosette between each word. Rev. MM. lis. rosette before ADIVTORE and MEV. after CIVITAS. two small dots before and after CANTOR. MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 5.* One without the dots reads CASTOR. MB. MM. Obverse ton and lis rosette between each word, at end of legend of obverse and outer legend of reverse. MB. MM. obverse lis? trefoils instead of rosettes between each word. Rev. MM. lis. rosette before ADIVTORE and MEV, two before CIVITAS and before CANTOR.
York: MM. Martlet; key at each side of neck. (375). Rud. vi. 10. Sn. ii. 45. We have not seen one with a cross upon the king's breast, distinct from the ornament of the tressure; as Rud. vi. 9. Some are without the tressure of arches round the head, Rud. Sup. iv. 3. and of these some commence the outer legend on the reverse over CIVITAS. MB. some over EBORACI. MB.
The pennies of this coinage appear to have been struck at Canterbury alone, and are extremely rare. The legend omits the name of France. The cross is forked. MM. on both sides a ton. (376). MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 2.
Halfpence of this coinage are also extremely rare, but occur of London, Canterbury and York.
London: MM. lis. H. D. G. REX ANGLIE Z FRA. Rud. Sup. iv. 10. Sn. iii. 4. CUFF. MB. another, but legend not satisfactorily legible. Rud. Sup. iv. 9. copied from Sn. ii. 44. has the open crown; but we suspect this to be an error, occasioned by the arch upon the specimen copied not being sufficiently visible.
Canterbury: HENRIC DI GRA REX A or AN. MM. none. Rev. E. J. SHEPHERD. MM. lis. CUFF. MM. lis on both sides, rosettes between the words of the legend on obverse. (378). MB.
York: like those of Canterbury. MM. doubtful, under the bust a key. (377). MB. Rud. vi. 26. MM. cross voided. MB.
Farthing: Mr. Cuff has one, but no MM. or legend is perceptible. Sn. ii. 43.
Third Coinage
In his eighteenth year, Henry VII. issued a new coinage, which is here considered his third, of workmanship superior to the preceding and of different types, but of the same weight and fineness. It consisted of shillings, groats, half-groats and pennies.
The shilling was the first coin of that denomination which was issued in England. It weighed twelve pennies or 144 grains. The obverse represents a profile of the king, wearing an arched crown. The titles are HENRIC or HENRICVS DI GRA REX ANGLIE Z FR. or FRANC. On the reverse is displayed, for the first time, the royal shield, bearing quarterly the arms of France and England upon a cross fourchee, with a lis or a trefoil between the forks; the exterior legend continued the same as upon the former coinages, but the interior legend, consisting of the name of the mint was discontinued. MB. Rud. vi. 18. 20. Mr. Dimsdale's sold for £8. 8s. One variety adds VII. after the king's name and reads ANGL Z FR. (383). MB. It is extremely rare. Another reads SEPTIM instead of VII. MB. Rud. vi. 19. Sn. iii. 8. This is extremely rare. These are the first instances in which the number is annexed to the king's name, except in the reign of Henry III. All these pieces have MM. lis.
The type of the groat is similar to that of the shilling. The legends vary in the same manner, and the numerals VII. and the word SEPTIM both occur on them The lis is the MM. on the reverse of that with SEPTIM (384.) This coin is extremely scarce, supposed unique, and was bought for the Museum at Willet's sale, 1827. Those with VII. have MM. Cross crosslet, MB. Pheon, Rud. vi. 17. 21. MB. Greyhound's head, MB. and Lis. 16. Sn. iii. 7. One in the British Museum without the numerals reads HENRICVS. MM. lis. All with numerals read HENRIC.
The half-groat is similar to the groat, with and without numerals; none has occurred with the word SEPTIM. The MM. are the Lis, Rud. vi. 14. Sn. iii. 6. Cinquefoil, 15. Martlet, (385). of these the MB. has two, one weighs 28 grains, the other full 24. Pheon. Rud. vi. 22. MB. Those struck at York have two keys below the shield upon the reverse, and have MM. a martlet. Rud. vi. 23. sometimes a cinquefoil on the obverse, and a martlet on the reverse (386).
The pennies of this coinage have the king seated upon his throne, crowned, holding a sceptre and orb; his titles as on the larger coins, omitting France. The legend of the reverse consists of the name of the city where the coin was struck, Durham, York and London.
On the reverse of the Durham pennies, letters at the side of the shield indicate the Bishop by whose authority they were struck, as D. S. for Dunelmensis Sherwood? MB. Rud. Sup. iv. 8. Sn. iii. 2. or I. S. for John Sherwood, who was Bishop from 1483 to 1494. Rud. Sup. ; iv. 5. The upper limb of the cross on the reverse terminates in a crozier, and the MM. of the obverse is a crozier issuing from the king's left hand; at least upon the former coin (387), the latter we have not seen and Ruding's plate only gives the reverse. In Rud. vi. 25. a similar coin is given but no letters appear and all the limbs of the cross are fourchee. Upon other Durham pennies are the letters R. D. for Ricardus (Fox) Dunelm, Bishop from 1494 to 1502. MB. Rud. vi. 12. The upper limb of the cross terminates in a mitre, over a coronet, and sometimes the arm of the throne in a rosette, MB. or a cross, SIR H. ELLIS. The letters DR, which are given in Rud. Sup. iv. 6. Sn. iii. 3, may indicate the same Bishop, or perhaps Ruthall, Bishop from 1508 to 1524, or about one year during the reign of Henry VII. MB. (388).
The York pennies are generally without MM. and where we have seen one it was too indistinct to be described. The throne varies in form and decorations, sometimes is without a back, and in some pieces the king holds the sceptre in his left hand, the orb in his right. (389). Rud. Sup. iv. 4. Two keys are always under the shield on the reverse. Rud. vi. 11. MB.
There are pennies of similar type struck in London and probably by this king, but the work so much resembles some of which must have been struck in the reign of his successor that there is some difficulty in ascribing these correctly. The only difference perceptible is the form of the king's throne; upon those pennies of Durham which, by the initials of cotemporary Bishops, are limited to the time of Henry VII. the backs of the chair are expressed by one thick line, surmounted by an ornament, not reaching to the inner circle of the coin. Upon those pennies which in the smae manner are limited to the time of Henry VIII. these lines are double, and reach up to the inner circle; they are also, perhaps, rather more neatly executed. According to this principle, slight as it is, we ahve arranged these pennies. One of this description with the name of London has a very small cross in the place of MM. MB. Another has MM. lis. Rud. vi. 13. Sn. iii. 5.