Henry VIII gold Crown, 2nd coinage, mm. lis, HK with Katherine of Aragon

Henry VIII (1509-47), gold Crown of the Double Rose of five shillings, struck in 22 carat crown gold, second coinage (1526-44), large crowned rose, crowned h to left, crowned K to right for Queen Katherine of Aragon, linear and beaded circle surrounding both sides, Lombardic lettering, initial mark lis (1529-32) both sides, hEnRIC'x VIII'x RVTILANSx ROSAx SINE'xx SPIA', the VIII with dotted Is, gothic n in King's name, Roman Ns in rest of legend, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, crowned h to left, crowned K to right, DEIxx G'xx Rxx AGLIE'xx Zxx FRAxx DnS' xx hIBERnIE, gothic lettering, weight 3.72g (cf.Schneider 584-586; N.1788; S.2274). A little uneven in shape with obverse a little off-centre, one light crease with some scrapes, very fine and very unusual with the mixed gothic and Roman lettering on the obverse, especially for the second mint mark of the issue.

The Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Henry, a dazzling rose without a thorn" and on the reverse "By the Grace of God, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland" This Crown of the Double Rose is interesting in that it carries the initial of the Queen rather than a crowned R for Rex, also the King was still styling himself as Lord of Ireland, rather than as King which occurs from 1544 onwards. Katherine of Aragon (1485-1536) was married first to Henry's older brother Arthur as Princess of Wales for only 5 months in 1502 when Arthur pre-deceased his Father King Henry VII. In 1507 Katherine became the first female Ambassador in Europe as Ambassadress to the Aragonese Crown in England. Katherine married the newly crowned Henry VIII in 1509 but could only issue with him a daughter Mary Tudor. The King had their marriage annulled in 1533 and Katherine died aged 50 at Kimbolton Castle in January 1536.