Crown of the Rose (coin)
Encyclopedia
A Crown of the Rose is an extremely rare gold coin of the Kingdom of England
introduced in 1526 during the reign of Henry VIII
, in an attempt to compete with the French ecu au soleil. The coin was not a success and just a few months later it was replaced by the Crown of the Double-Rose.
Obverse
Depicts a crowned shield with the arms of England and France. Legend: HENRIC 8 DEI GRA REX AGL Z FRAC meaning Henry the eighth, by the Grace of God, king of England and France.
Reverse
Depicts a large rose with two crowned letters "h" and two lions. Legend of two varieties: HENRIC RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning Henry, a dazzling rose without a thorn and DNS HIB RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning Lord of Ireland, a dazzling rose without a thorn.
as "posthumous coinage".
Obverse
Depicts a crowned shield with the arms of England and France and either blank or the crowned letters "hK" (Katherine of Aragon or possibly on later coins Katherine Howard), "hA" (Anne Boleyn
), "hI" (Jane Seymour
) or "hR" (Rex). Legend: DEI GR ANGLIE FRANC DNS HIBERNIE meaning By the Grace of God King of England, France, Lord of Ireland.
Reverse
Depicts a large crowned rose with the crowned letters "hK", "hA", "hI" or "hR" as on the obverse, but not necessarily the same. Legend: HENRIC VIII RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning Henry VIII, a dazzling rose without a thorn.
Obverse
Similar depiction as for the Crown of the Double-Rose, with uncrowned letters. Legend: HENRIC 8 D G AGL FR Z HIB REX meaning Henry VIII, by the Grace of God King of England, France and Ireland.
Reverse
Similar depiction as Crown of the Double-Rose with uncrowned letters. Legend: RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning a dazzling rose without a thorn.
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
introduced in 1526 during the reign of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, in an attempt to compete with the French ecu au soleil. The coin was not a success and just a few months later it was replaced by the Crown of the Double-Rose.
Crown of the Rose
The Crown of the Rose coin was valued at four shillings and sixpence (4s/6d), weighed 3.5 grammes and had a gold content of 23 ct. It was only struck for a few months. Due to its very short circulation, there are currently only two known specimens.Obverse
Depicts a crowned shield with the arms of England and France. Legend: HENRIC 8 DEI GRA REX AGL Z FRAC meaning Henry the eighth, by the Grace of God, king of England and France.
Reverse
Depicts a large rose with two crowned letters "h" and two lions. Legend of two varieties: HENRIC RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning Henry, a dazzling rose without a thorn and DNS HIB RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning Lord of Ireland, a dazzling rose without a thorn.
Crown of the Double-Rose
The Crown of the Double-Rose was valued at 5 shillings (5s), weighed 57.5 grains (3.73 grammes), and had a diameter of 26 mm, but with a lower gold content of 22 ct. This was the first time gold had been minted below the standard of 23 ct. This coin proved to be more popular than its predecessor and was struck until Henry's death in 1547, although it continued to be minted until 1551 during the reign of Edward VIEdward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
as "posthumous coinage".
Obverse
Depicts a crowned shield with the arms of England and France and either blank or the crowned letters "hK" (Katherine of Aragon or possibly on later coins Katherine Howard), "hA" (Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
), "hI" (Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour was Queen of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII. She succeeded Anne Boleyn as queen consort following the latter's execution for trumped up charges of high treason, incest and adultery in May 1536. She died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of...
) or "hR" (Rex). Legend: DEI GR ANGLIE FRANC DNS HIBERNIE meaning By the Grace of God King of England, France, Lord of Ireland.
Reverse
Depicts a large crowned rose with the crowned letters "hK", "hA", "hI" or "hR" as on the obverse, but not necessarily the same. Legend: HENRIC VIII RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning Henry VIII, a dazzling rose without a thorn.
Half-crown
There was also a Half-crown struck, based on the design of the Crown of the Double-Rose. It was valued at two shillings and six pence (2s/6d), weighed 1.85 grammes and had a diameter of 20 mm. It was struck during the same period as the Crown of the Double-Rose.Obverse
Similar depiction as for the Crown of the Double-Rose, with uncrowned letters. Legend: HENRIC 8 D G AGL FR Z HIB REX meaning Henry VIII, by the Grace of God King of England, France and Ireland.
Reverse
Similar depiction as Crown of the Double-Rose with uncrowned letters. Legend: RUTILANS ROSA SINE SPINA meaning a dazzling rose without a thorn.