Henry VIII gold Half-Angel, 3rd coinage (1544-47), ex Lockett

Henry VIII (1509-47), gold Half-Angel of four shillings, third coinage (1544-47), struck in 23 carat gold, St Michael spearing dragon right, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, initial mark lis, saltire stops, hEnRIC' x8x D'xG'x AGL'x FR'x Zx hIB'x REX'x, rev. quartered shield upon ship, cross above, h to left, rose to right, annulet stops, Oo CRVXo AVEo SPESo VINICAo, weight 2.60g (Schneider 625; N.1831; S.2302). Lightly toned, good very fine and rare this well preserved.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Henry the Eighth by the Grace of God, King of England"; and on the reverse "Hail! O Cross, our only hope."

A public indenture of 28th May 1544 officially marked the start of the third period of coinage of King Henry VIII, when debasement took full swing, and the gold coins were reduced to 23 carat for the fine pieces (0.958 fine). However, a secret indenture of 16th May 1542 had already allowed for a majority of minting activity in gold and silver at the new lower standards, with many coins prepared and already stockpiled in the Tower in readiness for the latter public indenture of debasement. In fact £15,595 worth of gold and £52,927 of silver had been stockpiled by March of 1544 all whilst at the same time minting activity occured at the usual fineness from the public indenture of the second issue unchanged since 1533. The stock pile was released for use from 28th May 1544 when the public indenture at the lower fineness took effect and all the coinage activity was at the debased level.

Provenance:
Ex Richard Cyril Lockett, English part 2, Glendining, 11th-17th October 1956, lot 1764 and plate XXI, sold for £20.

Purchased privately from Spink and Son Ltd, 8th April 1993.