Henry VIII Third coinage Quarter-Angel, mm lis, NGC AU55

Henry VIII (1509-1547), gold Quarter-Angel of two shillings, third coinage (1544-47), St Michael slaying dragon right, St Michael wearing tunic, initial mark lis both sides, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, slipped trefoil stops both sides, hENRICVSx VIIIx DEIx GRAx AGLI Ex, rev. ship sailing right with bowsprit, quartered shield of arms upon hull, cross above, h to left, rose to right, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, FRAnCIExx ETxx hIBERnIEx REX, Gothic Ns in legend, weight 1.27g (Schneider 630; N.1832; S.2304). Toned, some light surface marks, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as AU55, rare.

NGC certification 2130711-015.

The abbreviated Latin legends should be taken as one sentence across both sides as "Henry the Eighth by the Grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland."

The Quarter-Angel was first officially introduced as a denomination by the public indenture of 28th May 1544 which 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 including the Quarter-Angel, when many coins prepared and were 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. The Quarter-Angel was issued only for a very short time as minting of it had ceased by the end of March 1545.

Provenance:

Ex Dr Rolf Baumhauer, British gold Collection, part 3, Sincona, Auction 79, 22^nd October 2022, lot 1065.