Ira and Larry Goldberg Auctioneers
Auction 116 2-3 Jun 2020
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Great Britain. Crown of the Double Rose, ND. Fr-164; S.2273. Henry VIII, 1509-1547. 3.66g. Mint mark rose. Initials H and K (Henry and his wife Katherine of Aragon) on the obverse only. Mint state with virtually full mint luster. Original die striations are evident, and the detail on the rose center is unrivalled. An exceptional specimen, and one of the finest known examples of this unusual coin. Extremely rare in this state of preservation. An MS63 example of this denomination fetched $15,000 hammer in the Goldberg Millennium sale of 2008 (lot 285). PCGS graded MS-63. Estimated Value $9,000 - 10,000
Henry VIII was one of England's most famous and controversial monarchs. He had six wives, declared war on France, made himself Head of the Church of England, dissolved the monasteries, and died of excess aged 55. Although considerably less has been written about Katherine of Aragon than her ebullient husband Henry, she was a remarkable woman in her own right. Kathryn was promised in marriage to Henry VII's infant son Arthur at the tender age of three, to create an alliance between Spain and England. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. The couple eventually met and married in November 1504 (at the old St Paul's Cathedral in London) when they were both 15 years old. Six months later both Arthur and Katherine were taken ill with a 'sweating sickness' caused by a potentially deadly virus. Katherine survived, but Arthur died. Soon afterwards, and chiefly to avoid having to return her 200,000 ducat dowry, Katherine was promised to Arthur's younger brother (five years her junior) who eventually became Henry VIII. In 1507 Katherine assumed the post of ambassador for the Spanish court in England - the first female ambassador in European history. Henry and Katherine married in a private ceremony near Greenwich Palace in 1509, and the Pope granted permission because, according to Katherine, her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated. Katherine became pregnant six times, producing two sons (who died) and a daughter - who became the infamous Queen Mary I or 'Bloody Mary.' Henry VIII appointed Katherine as Regent while he went to France to pursue a military campaign. King James IV of Scotland subsequently declared war on England. Katherine ordered the raising of an English army and rode north in full battle dress - although heavily pregnant - to address the troops. There followed the great English victory at Flodden in September 1513, where around 10,000 Scottish soldiers were killed. Henry VIII tired of Katherine, and her inability to produce a male heir. By 1527 he had become infatuated with the 25-year old Anne Boleyn, and he asked the Pope to annul their marriage, so that he could marry Boleyn. The Pope refused, and Henry declared himself Head of the Church of England while the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer declared the marriage null and void. Katherine died in 1536 - probably of a tumour - and is buried in Peterborough Cathedral. Ironically, Anne Boleyn was executed by Henry in the same year.
Henry VIII was one of England's most famous and controversial monarchs. He had six wives, declared war on France, made himself Head of the Church of England, dissolved the monasteries, and died of excess aged 55. Although considerably less has been written about Katherine of Aragon than her ebullient husband Henry, she was a remarkable woman in her own right. Kathryn was promised in marriage to Henry VII's infant son Arthur at the tender age of three, to create an alliance between Spain and England. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. The couple eventually met and married in November 1504 (at the old St Paul's Cathedral in London) when they were both 15 years old. Six months later both Arthur and Katherine were taken ill with a 'sweating sickness' caused by a potentially deadly virus. Katherine survived, but Arthur died. Soon afterwards, and chiefly to avoid having to return her 200,000 ducat dowry, Katherine was promised to Arthur's younger brother (five years her junior) who eventually became Henry VIII. In 1507 Katherine assumed the post of ambassador for the Spanish court in England - the first female ambassador in European history. Henry and Katherine married in a private ceremony near Greenwich Palace in 1509, and the Pope granted permission because, according to Katherine, her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated. Katherine became pregnant six times, producing two sons (who died) and a daughter - who became the infamous Queen Mary I or 'Bloody Mary.' Henry VIII appointed Katherine as Regent while he went to France to pursue a military campaign. King James IV of Scotland subsequently declared war on England. Katherine ordered the raising of an English army and rode north in full battle dress - although heavily pregnant - to address the troops. There followed the great English victory at Flodden in September 1513, where around 10,000 Scottish soldiers were killed. Henry VIII tired of Katherine, and her inability to produce a male heir. By 1527 he had become infatuated with the 25-year old Anne Boleyn, and he asked the Pope to annul their marriage, so that he could marry Boleyn. The Pope refused, and Henry declared himself Head of the Church of England while the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer declared the marriage null and void. Katherine died in 1536 - probably of a tumour - and is buried in Peterborough Cathedral. Ironically, Anne Boleyn was executed by Henry in the same year.