Henry IV gold Noble, Calais mint, heavy coinage issue, flag at stern

Henry IV (1399-1413), gold Noble, heavy coinage (c. 1399-1412), Calais mint (c. 1399-1404), King standing in ship holding sword and shield, semée of four lis in upper left quarter, flag at stern of ship, rigging with three ropes to left, and one rope to right, ornaments on top line of hull 1-1-1-1 with lions right, quatrefoils 4/4 on castles, coronet horizontal on rudder, beaded inner and outer circles surround legend both sides, saltire and comma stops, hEn RIC'x DEI'x GRA'x REXxx AnGL'x Zx FRAnC'x D'x hIB'Z AQ T, n of FRANC struck over C, rev. h at centre, ornate cross with lis terminals, crown over lion in angles, all within beaded and linear tressure of eight arcs, large fleurs in spandrels, initial mark cross pattée, double saltire stops in legend, +IhC'xAVTEMxx TRAnSIEnSxx PERxx MEDIV'x ILLORVMxx IBAT, weight 7.73g (Blunt type IIa, Schneider 193; N.1338 var; S.1707). Fully round, struck from rusty dies with associate raised pimples but an excellent depiction of the King, some light scrapes and abrasions to high points with a little residual dirt in devices and light red discolouration on reverse, otherwise very fine and of the highest rarity in full round state, only four of this type known.

The Heavy Coinage gold coins issued by Henry IV are amongst the greatest rarities in the regular denominations of the medieval gold series. Being followed by a lighter gold coinage almost ensured that very few heavy coins survived intact to the modern day, unless deposited in a hoard or as part of a shipwreck pre-1412 in date.

Provenance:

Ex A.H. Baldwin & Sons, Auction 93, 5^th May 2015, Lot 92, sold for £30,000 hammer.