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1485-1509 Great Britain Henry VII Silver Groat – VF

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A very nice Henry VII Silver Groat forward facing type, class IIIc,

Attractive cabinet toning with a clear portrait of the king. Graded as Very Fine, a very pleasing example!

As class IIIc begins, we notice that the engravers add pupils to the eyes; moreover, they lighten the face and crown while also crafting the hair with greater realism. Consequently, the design moves towards what we may fairly call the earliest attempt at portraiture on this island’s medieval silver coinage.

Description

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England

He was the fourth son of William the Conqueror

Origin:Great Britain

Region:London

Denomination:Groat, Facing Bust issue, Class IIIc

Composition:Silver, Argentum

Date:Struck 1495-8

Obverse:✿ HENRIC’ × DI’ × GRA’ × REX × ANGL’ × Z × FRA’, normal pansy, crown with inner arch plain, saltire stops

Reverse:✿ POSVI DEV’ × A DIVTO E’ × MEV × CIVI TAS × LOnDOn, Long cross fourchée, with trefoil in each quarter, legend in two concentric circles around, single saltire before civi and lon, cross-end

Mint:London

Moneyer:N/A

Diameter, Weight & Orientation:25mm, 2.95g, 10h

Grade:Very Fine, a very pleasing example with clear portrait, nice natural cabinet toning

Provenance:Ex Noonans Mayfair, London, UK, Previously from a Small Group of Groats of Henry VII, the property of a Gentleman.

Henry VII: From Exile to Empire Builder

A Birth in Exile

Born on 28 January 1457 in Pembroke Castle, Wales, Henry Tudor entered the world under a cloud of conflict. His father, Edmund Tudor, had died before Henry was even born. His mother, the formidable Lady Margaret Beaufort, was just thirteen when she gave birth to him. Despite her youth, she would prove to be a political force to be reckoned with.

Margaret’s Power Play

Margaret’s determination to see her son on the throne was nothing short of heroic—or perhaps mildly terrifying. As the Wars of the Roses tore England apart in a tug-of-war between House Lancaster and House York, Margaret quietly plotted. Her son, the last serious Lancastrian heir, had been exiled to Brittany for safety. But Margaret, undeterred, worked the court and her contacts like a chess master, aligning with disgruntled Yorkists and securing key alliances.

Battle, Crown and Peace

In 1485, Henry landed in Wales with a modest army and marched toward destiny. At the Battle of Bosworth Field, he defeated King Richard III, ending over 30 years of dynastic strife. He claimed the throne as Henry VII, marrying Elizabeth of York shortly after. That clever union stitched together the feuding houses, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses and launching the Tudor dynasty.

Achievements: Cunning, Coins, and Control

Henry VII was no showy warrior king. Instead, he excelled in strategy and finance. He kept the nobles in check by creating the Court of the Star Chamber, a sneaky way to keep an eye on troublesome lords. He stabilised the economy, reformed the tax system, and filled the royal coffers without drawing his sword. His shrewd marriage alliances extended England’s influence across Europe.

Legacy and the Future King

When Henry died in 1509, he left a secure throne to his son—Henry VIII, a monarch who would turn the kingdom upside down with six wives and a new church. But none of that could have happened without Henry VII’s quiet brilliance. He built the foundation, forged peace, and transformed a fractured England into a formidable monarchy.

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Yes, we ship items overseas, using a number of services. Orders under AUD$199 are automatically sent via international registered mail. Items greater than AUD$200 are sent via Express Courier International service.

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