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Henry VIII, 1509-1547
The first gold coinage of Henry VIII, struck in 1509
under an indenture with Lord Mountjoy, Master of the Mint, was of
standard 23.5kt fineness. In 1536 Henry increased the stated value of
English gold coinage by 10 percent, without changing the weight or gold
content. Thus, instead of having a value of 20 shillings, a sovereign
suddenly was valued at 22 shillings. In 1544 Henry continued debasing
the coins to help finance the Court's inordinate extravagances. Gold
content was reduced to 23 karats, then to 22, and finally to 20, the
lowest state of degradation ever reached in England.
Two general types of sovereigns were struck during the reign of Henry
VIII. The first was similar in almost every detail to those struck by
Henry VII, with only a telltale lis mintmark on the obverse and an arrow
on the reverse. The second sovereign type shows a fat and aged King
Henry VIII with a flowing beard.
The Gold Coins of Henry VIII
 Sovereign value
22 shillings, 6 pence, wt. 15.41 grams.
(1531-1542), Tower Mint, FDC.
This coin is in superb condition and would be described in Europe as FDC
(fleur de coin).
Sovereign value 22 shillings, 6 pence, wt. 12.29 grams.
Type II, (1544-1547), Southwark Mint, VF.
The royal shield is flanked by a lion and a dragon.
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