Henry VI Noble, Annulet Issue, Calais mint, ex Pulham Hoard sold 1985, lot 85

Henry VI, first reign (1422-61), gold Noble of six shillings and eight pence, Calais Mint, Annulet Issue (c.1422-30), King standing in ship with upright sword and quartered shield, flag at stern, annulet by sword arm, lis after King's name, small trefoils stops in abbreviated Latin legend h EnRIC+ DI:. GRA':. REX:. AnGL':. Z:. FRAnC':. DnS:. hyB', rev. h at centre, ornate cross with lis terminals, crown over lion in angles, all within beaded and linear tressure of eight arcs, annulet in upper right spandrel, large fleurs in other spandrels, initial mark fleur de lis, annulet stops in abbreviated Latin legend +Ih'C*AVT'o TRAnSIEnSo PERo mEDIVmo ILLORV'o IBAT, weight 6.91g (Schneider 299; N.1415; S.1803). Toned, one light crease and a couple of small scrapes on reverse surface, with a good portrait of King, good very fine.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Henry by the Grace of God, King of England and France and Lord of Ireland"; and on the reverse "But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went His way" taken from the Bible.

Provenance:

Ex Pulham Hoard of Medieval Gold Coins, Property of Simon Drake, Christies, 28^th May 1985, lot 85.

The Pulham Hoard of 100 gold coins was dug up between the 22^nd May and 31^st October 1983 by Simon Drake at his property, Grange Farm, Pulham in Dorset. The whole 100 coins totalled a face value of £32/5/- a very sizeable sum in the medieval time in which it was deposited. 95 of the coins were sold in the sale with lots 2, 14, 54, 63, and 96 being retained by the finder.