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Artwork Page for Sovereign: Henry VIII Enthroned (obverse); Royal Arms on Tudor Rose (reverse)

Details / Information for Sovereign: Henry VIII Enthroned (obverse); Royal Arms on Tudor Rose (reverse)

Sovereign: Henry VIII Enthroned (obverse); Royal Arms on Tudor Rose (reverse)

1526–44
Part of a set, view all set records
gold
Diameter: 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.)
Weight: 15.376 g (0.54 oz.)
The Norweb Collection 1969.170
Location: not on view
Public Domain
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Did You Know?

The Sovereign was first produced by Henry VII in 1489; he wanted a new gold coin to represent the power of his reign.

Description

During his life Henry VII had accumulated enormous wealth, and it took his son, Henry VIII, until 1542 to squander it. Henry knew how the English coinage had been debased in the past and did not see why it should not be debased again, this time for his personal benefit. Regardless of the inevitable financial catastrophe, he grasped at this easy revenue and in his last years not only debased the gold coinage to 20 ct., but the silver also, to one part silver and two parts alloy.
Two sides of a warped gold coin with an inscription circling an image on both sides (see "Inscriptions" field). On the left, an enthroned, stylized man wears a crown and holds a scepter and orb. On the right, wavy petals suggest a rose surrounding a coat of arms divided into four sections. The upper left and lower right sections feature three stylized fleur-de-lis lilies and the remaining sections three elongated and barely discernable lions.

Sovereign: Henry VIII Enthroned (obverse); Royal Arms on Tudor Rose (reverse)

1526–44

England, Henry VIII, 1509-1547

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