The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 24, 2024
Half Angel: Angel Slaying a Dragon (obverse); Ship with Shield of Arms (reverse)
1526–44
Location: not on view
Did You Know?
This coin takes its name from the winged angel figure, St. Michael, who is spearing the dragon.Description
During his life Henry VII had accumulated enormous wealth, and it took his son, Henry VIII, until 1542 to squander it. Henry knew 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. Full debasement began officially in 1544. The angel varied in value from 6 shillings 8 pence to 11 shillings between Edward's reign and the time of James I. During the reign of Henry VIII, it was valued at seven shillings and six pence (7/6) or 90 pence, the half angel being half that value. The angel was last produced under Charles I in 1642.- -1969Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art1969-The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968. p. 30
- Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).English Gold Coins: Ancient to Modern Times. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1963).
- {{cite web|title=Half Angel: Angel Slaying a Dragon (obverse); Ship with Shield of Arms (reverse)|url=false|author=|year=1526–44|access-date=24 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.171