The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

Two sides of a 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, two lions flank and support a crowned 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 (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)

1544–47

England, Henry VIII, 1509-1547

gold
Diameter: 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.)
The Norweb Collection 1969.173
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This coin was struck during the end of Henry VIII's reign which ended in 1547 and lasted for 38 years.

Description

This is an example of the late, debased, third coinage of Henry VIII. Knowing how coinage had been debased in the past, Henry VIII did so again for his own personal benefit. He not only debased the gold coinage but the silver as well. This coin was struck at Southwark mint. The Southwark mint was in Suffolk Place, Southwark being immediately south of London Bridge. The mint was opened in June 1545, along with those of Canterbury, Durham House, Bristol, and York.
  • -1969
    Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1969-
    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. 32
  • 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=Sovereign: Henry VIII (obverse); Crowned Shield of Arms (reverse)|url=false|author=|year=1544–47|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.173