Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 10 22 Sep 2017
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
British Coins and Medals, Henry VIII, the King's Assumption of the Title of Supreme Head of the Church of England, cast silver medal, 1545, by Henry Bayse (or Basse), HENRICVS OCTA ANGLIÆ FRAN CI ET HIB REX FIDEI DEFENSOR ET/IN TERR ECCLE ANGLI ET HI BE SVB CHRIST CAPVT SVPREMVM, bust r., wearing a jewelled cap, ermine robe and jewelled collar, legend in two lines around with crowned Tudor rose, harp, portcullis and lis at compass points, rev. האינריכוש שמיני ג מלך באמונה גוז ובעדת אנגליאי וחיבירניאי מתחת משיח ראש עליוז - ΕΝΡΙΚΟΣ ΟϘTΔΟΟΣ TPIΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ ΠΙΣΤΕΩΣ ΠΡΟ ΣΤΑΤΗΣ ΕΝ ΤΗ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΙΒΕΡΝΙ-ΑΣ ΥΠΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΩ ΑΚΡΗ Η ΚΕΦΑΛΗ, in Hebrew and Greek with HR above and Londini 1545 below, wt. 39.43gms., 53.35mm. (MI.47/44; Eimer 26 and note; Hill, 1916; Evelyn p.88), a contemporary cast of an exceedingly rare medal, with a strong profile portrait, very fine
*ex Baldwin's vault
The is considered to be the first truly English medal. Henry had proclaimed himself to be Supreme Head of the Church of England in 1535; the medal dates to ten years later. The strong profile portrait is a later variation of that found on the silver groats of his second coinage. The medal's legend describes the King as: Henry, Eighth King of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and on Earth, Supreme Head of the Church of England and Ireland under Christ. It is Hill who makes the attribution to Henry Bayse (or Basse), who had been appointed Chief Engraver at the Tower Mint on 5 November 1544, retiring in 1449.
Hill, 1916 = G. F. Hill, 'The medal of Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church', Numismatic Chronicle (1916), pp.194-195. More recently an article by Richard Bishop, 'Hebraica Veritas', Spink Auction Insider (Winter 2009-2010), pp.18-21, discusses a struck example of the medal sold by Spink and subsequently re-sold by the Classical Numismatic Group, 9 October 2013 (lot 25 - $43,000) as part of the Clearwater Collection (5000-8000 GBP)
*ex Baldwin's vault
The is considered to be the first truly English medal. Henry had proclaimed himself to be Supreme Head of the Church of England in 1535; the medal dates to ten years later. The strong profile portrait is a later variation of that found on the silver groats of his second coinage. The medal's legend describes the King as: Henry, Eighth King of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and on Earth, Supreme Head of the Church of England and Ireland under Christ. It is Hill who makes the attribution to Henry Bayse (or Basse), who had been appointed Chief Engraver at the Tower Mint on 5 November 1544, retiring in 1449.
Hill, 1916 = G. F. Hill, 'The medal of Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church', Numismatic Chronicle (1916), pp.194-195. More recently an article by Richard Bishop, 'Hebraica Veritas', Spink Auction Insider (Winter 2009-2010), pp.18-21, discusses a struck example of the medal sold by Spink and subsequently re-sold by the Classical Numismatic Group, 9 October 2013 (lot 25 - $43,000) as part of the Clearwater Collection (5000-8000 GBP)