HENRY VIII [1509-47]
Third coinage TESTOON (shilling)

Weight 7.67g. Tower m.m. LIS
Crowned bearded bust of the King facing, with promenant sidelocks,
wearing a mantle with collar of fur.

HENRIC VIII DI GRA AGL FRA Z HIB REX

rev. Large crowned rose, crowned h R at sides

    POSVI DEVM ADIVTORIVM MEVM

Lombardic lettering, Roman M, saltie stops, two double saltires after MEVM

Amagificent and beautiful speciman, on an exceptonally full round flan,
the detail fully clear and struck up, a coin of excessive rarity in this condition.

The provenance dates back to ownership in the 18 centuary
S.Tyssen
Durrant
Shepherd
Rostrum
Murdoch
Spinks
Cope

The first testoon of Henry VIII, the 9 oz fine issue reading henric VIII, are struck in finer metal but in lower relief than the subsequent issues. They are rare in absolute terms and extremely so in a high state of preservation. This example has long been regarded as unrivaled