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Henry VII, 1485-1509
Henry VII, the first of the Tudors, became King of England in 1485 by
defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. His marriage to
Elizabeth, elder daughter and heiress of Edward IV, terminated the civil
conflict known as the War of the Roses by uniting the Lancasters and
Yorks ("the red and white roses").
In 1489 Henry VII directed Lord Giles Daubaney and Bartholomew Reed,
joint Mint Masters of the Tower Mint, to strike a magnificent new gold
coin, double the size and weight of the noble (or "ryal") that had
circulated in earlier reigns. As suggested by the design, which showed
the King enthroned in majesty, the new coin was called a "sovereign."
The first regular-issue sovereign was of standard fineness, weighed 240
grains and was valued at 20 shillings. The mintmark was a distinctive
five-pointed device known as a "cinquefoil." Four specimens are thought
to exist: one in the British Museum, one in a Scottish museum, one in a
private collection in Belgium, and the one in this collection.
The Gold Coins of Henry VII
 Sovereign value
20 shillings, wt. 240 grains.
Type I, 1489, Tower Mint, VF
One of four known specimens of Type I, showing the king in sitting on a
low throne with a fleur de lis background pattern.
Sovereign value 20 shillings, wt. 240 grains.
Type II, (1493-1495) Tower Mint, VF
Type II shows the King sitting in a high throne flanked by a dragon and
a greyhound.
Sovereign value 20 shillings, wt. 240 grains.
Type III, (1502-1504) Tower Mint, VF+
Type III is distinguished by the three ornamental arches above the
throne.
Sovereign value 20 shillings, wt. 240 grains.
Type IV, (1505-1509) Tower Mint, EF
Type IV shows the king enthroned with a portcullis below his feet.
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