Henry VIII gold Crown of the Double Rose HK

Henry VIII (1509-47), gold Crown of the Double Rose, issued at Five Shillings in 22 carat gold, second coinage (1526-44), crowned double rose, crowned h to left for Henry, crowned K to right for Queen Katharine of Aragon, circle and legend surrounding, initial mark rose (issued November 1526-1529), legend reads hENRICx VIIIx RVTILAnSx ROSAx SIEx SPIA, rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, legend reads after rose DEIx GxRx AGLIEx Zx FRAnCx DnSx hIBERIE, 3.59g (Schneider 582; North 1788; S.2273). One slight crease, a bold very fine.

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.