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TUDOR. Henry VIII. 1509-1547. AR Testoon (30mm, 7.82 g, 3h). Third coinage. Tower (London) mint; im: lis. Struck 1544-1545. Crowned facing bust / Crowned rose; crowned h R flanking. Jacob O.1/R.1; Whitton A(1), a(i); North 1841; SCBC 2364. Toned, a few marks, usual weak strike on face. Near VF.
From the David C. Bianchi II Collection. Ex Alexander Christopher Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 127, 17 September 2024), lot 1167 (hammer $10,000); Stack’s (7 December 1993), lot 2985.
On this popular type we are confronted by one of the most recognizable faces in British history. Working in low relief, the unknown engraver conveys the forceful presence of the mature Henry VIII who, by 1544, wielded more power than any previous English king. Indeed, as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, he stood second only to God in his realm. Yet, while convincingly representing Henry’s overbearing appearance, the portrait also shows a careworn man: by 1544 the king was corpulent and in poor health; at odds over matters of faith with his sixth wife Catherine Parr; frustrated in his attempts to marry his son Edward to the infant Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots; and about to embark on the largest ever invasion of France by an English army. The need for funds to finance this war forced Henry’s government to embark on a great manipulation of the currency which resulted in a new silver coinage of reduced fineness. This testoon, a denomination which had not been struck for 40 years, is one of the earliest products of this Great Debasement.
Closing Date and Time: 20 May 2026 at 10:55:20 ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website, 25% for all others.
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