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Auction: 22004 - The Jean-Marie Vanmeerbeeck and Simon English Esq. Collections of English Hammered and Milled Coins
Lot: 129

(x) The Jean-Marie Vanmeerbeeck Collection of Numismatic Portraits from Medieval Flanders and Tudor England | Henry VIII (1509-1547), Third Coinage, Testoon, 1544-1547, after Hans Holbein, Tower, hENRIC [: 8 : D : G]R AGL : Z : FRA : Z : hIB : REX, double saltire stops, crowned facing bust, rev. (m.m.) [POS]VI DEV[M] ADIVTORIVM : MEVM [sic], double saltire stops, crowned double rose dividing crowned h-R, 7.48g [115.2grns], 7h, m.m. pellet-in-annulet (Jacobs [SNC, July-September 1975], dies ; North 1841; Spink 2365), although a little weakly struck in parts of legend, a most pleasing portrait piece, good very fine and rare thus

Provenance
Martin Hughes, Spink 139, 16 November 1999, lot 3 - *THE COVER LOT* - although a little weakly struck in parts of legend, a most pleasing portrait piece, good very fine and rare thus
J Perley Storer, Spink 111, 21 November 1995, lot 75
Seaby Auction, 23 April 1986, lot 113



The dating for Testoons is one of the most secure amongst issues of Henry's coinage otherwise demarcated into three distinct phases by portraiture. The well-known first coinage, struck from coronation until 1526 depicts the old bust of Henry VII, exchanged under Wolsey's 'Second Coinage' until 1544 as defined by Laker. Within these lengthy phases of production, a multitude of mintmarks are noted, but further study has produced only limited data on die sequencing. However the landmark passing of the title 'Rex Hiberniae' in the 35th year of his reign is juxtaposed with the striking facing portrait of Henry VIII evidently inspired by Hans Holbein's famous portrait of 1537. Unfortunately for numismatists, the vast majority of these striking issues are poorly struck and notoriously light on portrait detail. However the appearance of this example in 1986 has led to its subsequent identification as one of the finest known examples extant, and as mentioned in the prescript to the Hughes dispersal: 'it is possibly the most expressive portrait of the king to be found a coin.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£42,000

Starting price
£8000