1544-1549 Gold Crown Coin Henry VIII Double Rose Bristol Mint

BullionByPost are proud to present this very collectable King Henry VIII gold Crown. The obverse of the coin features a crowned double rose, separating the crowned letters H & K. While the reverse features a crowned shield with the arms of England and France. The ligatured (merged) letters 'WS' on the reverse are the initials for Master William Sharington, indicating that this coin was minted in Bristol between 1544 and 1549.

Interestingly, William Sharington had been defrauding the mint by minting his coins slightly underweight. The money from this was used to support a plot by Thomas Seymour to launch an armed uprising, and capture the boy King, Edward VI. Upon discovery, Seymour was beheaded, and Sharington was stripped of his land and seat in Parliament. It was only through the interventions of the Earls of Shrewsbury and Southampton that he managed to escape with his life, and was in fact able to recover his lands and even his seat in parliament just a few years later.

Obverse
A crowned double rose with the crowned letters H and K on either side. The text reads 'HENRIC VIII RUTILANS ROSA SIE SPIN' meaning 'Henry VIII a dazzling rose without a thorn'.

Reverse
A crowned quartered shield bearing the arms of England and France. The text around reads 'DEI G R AGL Z FRANC DNS HIBERNIE' meaning - 'By the Grace of God, King of England France and Ireland'.