The Earliest Dated English Coin was a Groat (4 d - a French gros) struck by Henry VIII in the then French city of Tournai (now Belgium) in 1513.This piece bears the date 1513 in Arabic numerals.
HENRIC. 8. DI. GRA. FRANCIE. ET. ANGLIE. REX
Henry VIII by the Grace of God King of France and England
CIVITAS TORNA CENSIS 1:5:1:3and the centre of the coinh
Citi Tornai 1:5:1:3
The earliest dated British coin 1513?. Struck in the name of an English monarch Henry 8. The Tournai Groat (gros or 4d) struck subsequent to the capture of the town in September 1513 from France. It remained under English control until October 1518 when Tournai was returned to France on the payment of 600'000 crowns. The earliest dated English coin was previously considered to be the 1547 (MDXLVII) dated pattern shillings of Edward VI
Hitherto the earliest dated English coin was thought to be the 1547 (MDXLVII) pattern shilling of Edward VI. The incomprehensible original is below
The KNOWN owners
With Snelling some time prior to 1769
Benjamin Bartlett, collection sold Gerard 25/4/1787
Edward Hodsoll, collection bought by Tyssen in the late 1700s
Samuel Tyssen 3087, Sotheby 12/4/1802. Bought by Young £11/11/- for
Barrè Charles Roberts, collection purchased by the British Museum in 1810.
Sold/Exchanged by the BM after 1915, exact date unknown.
Dr.Carter acquired Baldwins 1950
Glendining 8/7/1970 lot 59 R.Philippi
SNC 5/1990 no.2521 £5'000-
Frank Brady bought Spinks, Sold Auction 290, Spink 209, 6/10/2011
There are a total of 3 known examples with a shield surmounted by an imperial crown with the lis and lion on either side. On the reverse in the centre h with only one of the other type. The style is similar to contemporary issues of French coin in appearance and therefore it was highly likely struck by dies produced by a local engraver and workers and struck in Tournai the captured town who has a long tradition in minting
Geoffrey
Posted 11/02/2013 4:29 pm
