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Sale 114
Lot 510
Henry VII (1485-1509), Silver Testoon of Twelve Pence, profile issue, type 1. Crowned bust facing right, all within linear and beaded circle only broken by cross atop ornate crown, legend and outer beaded border surrounding, initial mark small lis, hEnRIcvsx DI’x Grax REX, AnGliex Zx FR’, rev. quartered shield of arms over long cross fourchée, lis in each fork of cross which extend to outer border, legend with inner and outer beaded borders surrounding, initial mark small lis, POSVI DEV’x A DIVTO’ E’x mEV’x, weight 9.07g (P&W dies 1/1; S.C.B.I. 23:759-760; Stewartby 1a, page 430; N.1740; S.2251). Traces of contemporary gilding both sides with associated surface marks, otherwise very fine with a great portrait, the key initial rarity to the Shilling series, with an excellent provenance, very rare. Value $25,000 - UP
The first silver Shilling issued in England, being the largest silver coin ever struck at that time, was also one of the first to adopt a realistic profile portrait of the monarch contemporary with the Renaissance artistic styles in Europe. As such these rare coins of King Henry VII have been highly coveted by numismatists through the ages, since not long after their inception in an indenture dated 20th November 1503 between the King and William Reed with Robert Fenrother. It is thought such pieces were engraved by Alexander de Brugsal, and as a larger silver denomination were influenced by the silver Teston in Europe which was first issued under the Duke of Milan in 1468. The Spink catalogue divided them into three main types of which the coin here is the earliest type and sub-class, as these types can be subdivided further. For further reading see "The Coinage of Henry VII continued" by W. J. W. Potter and E. J. Winstanley published in volume 31 of the British Numismatic Journal in 1962 and "A search into Rarity" by Colin Pitchfork in the Report of the Autralian Numismatic Society 1968 where he records 17 examples known of this type of which seven are in institutions as of that time.
The obverse Latin legend translates as "Henry by the grace of God, King of England and France" and the reverse as "I have made God my helper.".
Originally sourced from "an old collection in Holland" Ex Harry Alexander Parsons, Glendining 11-13th May 1954, lot 328. Ex C. J. Firth Collection, sold anonymously in Spink Coin Auction 1, 11th October 1978, lot 183, front cover coin, sold £8,500. Ex Spink Coin Auction 55, 8th October 1986, lot 123. Ex Lucien La Riviere, Spink Coin Auction 124, 18-19th November 1997, lot 1726. Ex Martin Hughes Collection, Spink Coin Auction 139, 16th November 1999, lot 1. Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, August 2000, 3032.
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| Realized $43,200 |
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