41. P eace. 1544.
Another differing from the former in having on the reverse
the letters r . m . g . instead of l . a . v ., and the Leg. vtncvlvm .
c o nco rd ie . d il ig it . d e v s . (God loves the bond of amity.)
m. m. Rose: stops, trefoils.
1*1. Van Mieris, III. 102.
MB. electrotype from Hague, iE. Very rare.
Yan Mieris supposes these two counters to commemorate the
peace of Crepy, of which the treaty was signed 19 Sept. 1544.
But Henry did not consent to be a party to that peace, which
was between Germany and France; England did not conclude a
peace till 7 June, 1546. The explanation of the letters between
the shields has evaded the researches of Yan Mieris, hut they
probably refer to the mint masters of Guelderland at the period.
42. H ea d o f t h e C h u r c h . Circa 1545.
Half-length figure of Henry YIH., three-quarters, r., crowned
and robed, holding sword and orb. Leg. h e n r ic ’ . 8 d e i . gracia :
a n g l ie . f r a n c i . z . HiBERN : r e x . m. m. Fleur-de-lis.
Rev. Arms of France and England quarterly, crowned; supporters,
a Lion and a Dragon; on a tablet below, h r , monogram.
Leg. ANGLICE . Z . HIBERNICE : ECCLESIE : SVPREMVM : CAPVT.
(The supreme head of the Church of England and Ireland.)
m. m. Fleur-de-lis.
1'75. Med. Hist. iv. 4. Perry, i. 5. Pemb. Cat. P. 4.
T. 28. Ruding, PI. viii. 1. Wise, Bodl. Cat. T. xx.
Bodley, .R. (much worn). Unique ?
If the Pembroke collection ever contained a specimen, it had
been removed many years before the sale.
This piece has been called sometimes a coin, sometimes a
medal; it may have been a pattern for a crown, but its worn
state is owing to having been suspended as a medal as shown
by a hole. At the commencement of this reign the supporters
of the royal arms were a Dragon and a Greyhound; afterwards
the Lion became the dexter supporter, and the Dragon was removed
to the sinister, as upon this piece. The title King of
Ireland renders it probable that it was struck after 28 Jan.
1542, when that title was proclaimed. Chasings by Stuart of
the last century are common and of no value.
43. H ea d o f t h e C h u r c h . 1545.
Half-length figure of Henry YIII., nearly full face, crowned,
holding sword and orb; very plain robes fastened with brooch.
Leg. h e n r ic ’. 8 . d e i : gracia : a n g l i : f r a n c i : z . h ib e r n :
r e x . m. m. Fleur-de-lis.
Rev. Arms of France and England quarterly, &c.; similar to
the last, but h r not on tablet, and Leg. reading h ib e n ic e
instead of h d b e r n ic e .
1-75.
MB. iR. (Cuff.) Edw. Wigan, 2R. St. Petersburg, iR.
Rare.
The execution of this singular piece is very rude, and the
details are represented in an unsatisfactory manner; for instance,
the King’s robes, the sword, which has a small guard,
and the heraldic ornaments, are all somewhat of a foreign
character. The three specimens above noticed are from the same
die, and are the only ones known : the first weighs 459J grains,
the second 415 grains. It is presumed to be a pattern for a
crown, but the unsatisfactory nature of the workmanship renders
it probable that it is a copy, made in the present century on the
Continent from an inaccurate engraving of the last-described
specimen.
44. S upr em acy o f t h e C h u r c h . 1545.
Bust of Henry YIII., r., on his head a cap decorated with
jewels, his robe ermined, a splendid collar of rubies over his
shoulders. Leg. in two circles divided into four parts by the
Royal badges, the Rose, Portcullis, Fleur-de-lis, and Harp, each
crowned, h e n r ic v s . ociA . a n g l i® . f r a n c i . e t . hub . r e x .
FIDEI . DEFENSOR . ET . IN . TERR . ECCLE . ANGLI . ET . HIBE .
svb . c h r is t . capvt . svpremvm. (Henry YIII., King of England,
France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, and under
Christ the supreme head on earth of the Church of England
and Ireland.)