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Overview:
Henry VIII came to the throne on 21 April 1509. Henry VII had accumulated enormous wealth and it took Henry VIII many years to squander it. Only when his resources were nearly depleted did Henry VIII seek easy solutions to guarding English coinage against competitive foreign currencies - the debasement of his coinage. Gold was reduced to 0.83 fineness and silver eventually to 0.33 fineness. One major design change was the introduction of the portcullis/rose farthing as a means of differentiating between the farthing and the diminutive halfpenny.
The Hammered Silver Farthings of Henry VIII are very rare - though Paul Withers was surprised at the number of Henry VIII farthings that he saw during the compilation of his guide to Henry VIII farthings. Certainly farthings from the first coinage are known in sufficient numbers they can no longer be classified as 'extremely rare.'
TRANSITIONAL COINAGE.
- On 6 August 1509 an indenture was issued which included an authorisation for the striking of farthings and naming William Blount (Lord Mountjoy) as master-worker at the London and Calais mints.
Until 2011 there was no evidence that any farthings were actually struck between 1509 and the First Coinage of 1523, or if they were struck then they were indistinguishable from those struck during Henry VII reign.
Two farthings have now been identified that have the the bust and crown of Henry VII but clearly have the Portcullis mintmark used on Henry VIII First Coinage farthings.
Date: 1509-1523
Mint: London
Type: TRANSITIONAL COINAGE
Diameter: 8-10mm
Weight: 0.16g (3 grains1)
Obverse: Initial mintmark of a Portcullis followed by:
hEnRIC x DI GRΛ REX Λ
No stops. Legend translated:
Henry by the Grace of God, England
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
Long Cross fourchee (with bifurcated ends) and three pellets
in
each quarter.
Reference(s):
W. -
S. -
N. -
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£275 (Fine)
£625 (Very Fine)
FIRST COINAGE.
- In 1523 an Act of Parliament was passed that included the stipulation that farthings should be of a different style to avoid confusion with halfpennies:
"And forasmuch as at this present tyme farthynges and half pens be stryckyn all with oon coyne, so that the comen People of the Realme many tymes take those that be ferthyns for halfpens; Be it therefor enacted by thauctorite aforesaid that all such ferthynges that from hensforth shalbe made withyn this Realme shall have uppon the oon side thereof the prent of the Port colys and uppon the other side thereof the prynt of the Rose with a crosse upon lyke payn."
-
Withers states that "of the six specimens seen [with the Type 1a] obverse legend all are struck from different obverse dies and at least five different reverse dies." 3
It has been established that small dies last longer (and therefor can be used to strike a greater quantity of coins) than dies used for large coins. Additionally it was expensive to produce dies, so only as many were produced as were needed. With 6 different obverse dies and only one coin representing each die, this suggests that significant quantities of these farthings were struck - far more than known examples might suggest. What happened to these coins? Were they removed from circulation and melted down during a subsequent recoinage? Or, due to their tiny size, are they simply eluding current metal detection capabilities?
- According to Withers and other examples studied, there are several varieties of First Coinage farthings - the varieties for these coins are based on the following obverse legends:
hEnRICx DIx GRAx REX
hEnRIC'x DIx G[---]
hEnRIC'x DIx GRAxx REX
hEnRIC'x DIx GRAx' REX
hEnRICx DIx GRAx RE
Date: 1523-1526
Mint: London
Type: FIRST COINAGE
Diameter: 8-10mm
Weight: 0.20g (3 grains1)
Obverse: Initial mintmark of a Portcullis followed by:
hEnRICx DIx GRΛx REX around a Portcullis.
Legend translated:
Henry by the Grace of God
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
Rose in center of "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Reference(s):
W. WV 1a
S.2336
N.1781
Scarcity: Very Rare (see note)
Guide Price:
£275 (Fine)
£625 (Very Fine)
Note:
Of the six specimens seen by Withers, each was struck using a
different obverse die and all but one used a different reverse die.
This type of farthing from the First Coinage is the most common of
those produced during the reign of Henry VIII.
Date: 1523-1526
Mint: London
Type: FIRST COINAGE
Diameter: 8-10mm
Weight: 0.20g (3 grains1)
Obverse: Initial mintmark of a Portcullis followed by:
hEnRIC'x DIx G[---] around a Portcullis.
Legend translated:
Henry by the Grace of God
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
Rose in center of "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Reference(s):
W. WV 1b
S.2336
N.1781
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£275 (Fine)
£625 (Very Fine)
Date: 1523-1526
Mint: London
Type: FIRST COINAGE
Diameter: 8-10mm
Weight: 0.20g (3 grains1)
Obverse: Initial mintmark of a Portcullis followed by:
hEnRICx DIx GRΛx RE around a Portcullis.
Legend translated:
Henry by the Grace of God
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
Rose in center of "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Reference(s):
W. WV 1c
S.2336
N.1781
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£275 (Fine)
£625 (Very Fine)
Date: 1523-1526
Mint: London
Type: FIRST COINAGE (NEW Variety)
Diameter: 8-10mm
Weight: 0.16g (3 grains1)
Obverse: Initial mintmark of a Portcullis followed by:
hEnRIC'x DIx GRΛxx REX around a Portcullis.
No stops. Legend translated:
Henry by the Grace of God
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
Rose in center of "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Reference(s):
W. Unlisted variety
S.2336
N.1781
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£275 (Fine)
£625 (Very Fine)
Date: 1523-1526
Mint: London
Type: FIRST COINAGE (NEW Variety)
Diameter: 8-10mm
Weight: 0.16g (3 grains1)
Obverse: Initial mintmark of a Portcullis followed by:
hEnRIC'x DIx GRΛx' REX around a Portcullis.
No stops. Legend translated:
Henry by the Grace of God
Reverse: CIVITΛS LOnDOn
Rose in center of "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Reference(s):
W. Unlisted variety
S.2336
N.1781
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£275 (Fine)
£625 (Very Fine)
SECOND COINAGE, or WOLSEY's COINAGE.
- Whitton felt the Type 1 of this coinage seems to have been stuck in contravention of the law of 1523 by " showing on the reverse not a rose but a cross with a pellet in each angle." 2 Whether a law was passed to change the look of the coinage or whether there was some other significance is currently unresolved - but certainly Type 2 does conform to the law of 1523.
Important Note:
- Tim Webb Ware, in his article about Henry VIII farthings, makes reference to a unique Henry VIII farthing with a "Rose" mintmark. The coin was in the Norweb Collection and no further examples have been found with a "Rose" mintmark. This coin was recently sold at DNW auctions and after close inspection it was found to possess a "Lis" mintmark.
There is now no demonstrable evidence that Henry VIII farthings with a "Rose" mintmark were struck and this reference should now be removed from any reference books.
Date: 1526-1544
Mint: London
Type: SECOND COINAGE
Diameter: 9mm
Weight: (2½ grains1)
Obverse: RVTILANSx ROSA around a Portcullis
Mint mark: Lis
Legend translated:
A dazzling Rose
Reverse: DEO GRA CI AS
"Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends) with one pellet in each
quarter.
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. WV 1Ba
S.2362
N.1821
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£300 (Fine)
£650 (Very Fine)
Date: 1526-1544
Mint: London
Type: SECOND COINAGE
Diameter: 9mm
Weight: (2½ grains1)
Obverse: RVTILANSx ROSAx around a Portcullis
Mint mark: Lis
Legend translated:
A dazzling Rose
Reverse: DEO GRA CI AS
"Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends) with one pellet in each
quarter.
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. WV 1Bb
S.2362
N.1821
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£300 (Fine)
£650 (Very Fine)
Date: 1526-1544
Mint: London
Type: SECOND COINAGE
Diameter: 9mm
Weight: (2½ grains1)
Obverse: RVTILANS ROSA around a Portcullis
Mint mark: Sunburst
Legend translated:
A dazzling Rose
Reverse: DEO GRA CI AS
"Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends) with one pellet in each
quarter.
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. WV 1Ca
S.2362
N.1821
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Date: 1526-1544
Mint: London
Type: SECOND COINAGE
Diameter: 9mm
Weight: (2½ grains1)
Obverse: RVTILANSx ROSA around a Portcullis
Mint mark: Arrow
Legend translated:
A dazzling Rose
Reverse: DEO GRA CI AS
Rose on "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. WV 2a
S.2363
N.1821/1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£400 (Fine)
£850 (Very Fine)
Date: 1526-1544
Mint: London
Type: SECOND COINAGE
Diameter: 9mm
Weight: (2½ grains1)
Obverse: RVTILANS[x?] ROSAx around a Portcullis
Mint mark: Arrow
Legend translated:
A dazzling Rose
Reverse: DEO GRA CI AS
Rose on "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. WV 2b
S.2363
N.1821/1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£400 (Fine)
£850 (Very Fine)
Date: 1526-1544
Mint: London
Type: SECOND COINAGE
Diameter: 9mm
Weight: (2½ grains1)
Obverse: RVTILANS ROSA around a Portcullis
Mint mark: Arrow
Legend translated:
A dazzling Rose
Reverse: DEO GRA CI AS
Rose on "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. WV 2c
S.2363
N.1821/1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£400 (Fine)
£850 (Very Fine)
Date: 1526-1544
Mint: London
Type: SECOND COINAGE (NEW Variety)
Diameter: 9mm
Weight: (2½ grains1)
Obverse: RVTILANSx ROSA around a Portcullis
Mint mark: Arrow
Legend translated:
A dazzling Rose
Reverse: DEO GRA CI ASx
Rose on "Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends)
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. Unlisted
S.2363
N.1821/1
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£400 (Fine)
£850 (Very Fine)
Date: 1544-1547
Mint: London
Type: THIRD COINAGE/POSTHUMOUS COINAGE
Diameter: 8-9mm
Weight: 0.16g (2½ grains1)
Obverse: hx Dx Gx RVTIL ROSAx around a Rose
Reverse: DEO GR ACI AS
"Long Cross forchee" (bifurcated ends) and pellets
No mintmark.
Legend translated:
By the Grace of God
Reference(s):
W. WV 1a
S.2388A
N. Unlisted
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Guide Price:
£550 (Fine)
£1200 (Very Fine)
1 SEABY, BA. (ed) 1948: Notes on English Silver Coins 1066-1648 to
help collectors in their classification (London, Seaby). pp 87
2 WHITTON, CA. 1950-52: 'The Coinage of Henry VIII and Edward VI in
Henry's Name' BNJ 26, p. 56-89, 171-212, 290-332.
3 WITHERS, P & WITHERS, BR. 2004: Small Change V: The Small Silver
of Henry VIII to the Commonwealth. (Galata).
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