Lot 2586
Great Britain. Half Sovereign, ND. S.2295; Fr-167. Henry VIII (1509-1547) Half Sovereign. Tower Mint. Mint mark pellet in annulet. Extra annulet on inner circle on reverse. Obverse: King seated on throne facing, holding orb and scepter. Reverse: Crowned Tudor shield of arms with supporters. H R below. Nice portrait and some sharp struck areas of design on this notoriously weakly struck coin. Well centered and a little original luster. A scarcer variety. Struck 1544-1547 during the last three years of the King's reign. Removed from mount. Very Fine to Extremely Fine.
* By 1544 Henry VIII had been married for several months to his last wife, the wealthy widow Catherine Parr. Although they had different views over religion and certain affairs of state, Catherine was careful to refrain from antagonizing the King. Indeed she helped reconcile Henry with his daughters Mary and Elizabeth. A 1544 Act of Parliament put the two daughters back in the line of succession behind his son later to be Edward VI. In his last few years Henry became grossly over weight and reputedly had a waist measurement of 54 inches. It was eventually necessary to move him around by mechanical means. He died at the age of 55 in late January 1547 at the Palace of Whitehall.
Despite a cruel and tyrannical streak, Henry's reign was a significant one in British history. He broke with the Church of Rome in 1533-1534, boosted the Royal Navy and built and improved many famous buildings. He is noted for his six marriages.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
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| Realized $4,600 |
