Henry VIII Testoon, Third Coinage, Southwark, muled mm E and S

Henry VIII (1509-47), debased silver Testoon with a nominal value of a shilling, Southwark mint, third coinage (1544-47), facing crowned bust of King in ruff, cross on crown breaks inner beaded circle with Latin legend and outer beaded border surrounding both sides, initial mark E, lombardic lettering with sleeve stops, hEnRIC; 8; D; G; AGL'. FRA': Z; HIB; REX; rev. crowned Tudor rose, crowned h to left, crowned R to right, initial mark S, legend with floret stops, +S+ + + CIVITAS + + + LOnDOn + +, weight 7.38g (N.1842; Stewartby bust 3; S.2367). Toned, weak in parts of legend only, a decent Holbein style portrait of the King from this muled mint mark base issue from the Southwark Mint, a couple of tiny rim splits into legend only otherwise good very fine for issue, rare and well preserved.

The Latin legends translate as on obverse "Henry the Eighth by the grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland" and on the reverse "City of London" the mint mark E on obverse muled with S on reverse is a quirk of the later base issue from the Southwark mint which is combined with Bust 3 of the King.

We have carried out an x-ray fluorescence test of this coin to see how the metals within this base issue break down and it is interesting to note how relevant the "Old Coppernose" colloquial insult to the King on this coinage was as the content shows a 53.7% copper content as opposed to being 45.3% silver with other trace metals accounting for the 1% part. This is a great surviving example of what usually is a poorly struck base metal issue with a great provenance.

Provenance:

Exhibited at the British Numismatic Society meeting of 26^th May 1943, "special exhibition of the coins of Henry VIII" with sixteen testoons displayed by Mr R.C. Lockett.

Ex Richard Cyril Lockett, English part III, Glendining, 4^th November 1958, lot 3240, plate XIX, as "unusually fine for this variety" sold for £26

Ex Mrs E. M. H. Norweb, part II, Spink Coin Auction 48, 13^th November 1985, lot 331

Ex Dr Irving Schneider 862.