Description
Henry VI of the House of Lancaster, Cadet branch of the Royal House of Plantagenet, King of England in his first reign 1422-1461 AD, Silver Groat (3.47g, 27mm), Annulet issue, initial mark Pierced Cross, Calais mint. Obverse: Crowned bust of King Henry VI facing forward, bare chested, annulet at each ear, all within double-lined tressure of arches, inner beaded border and legend with cross stops surrounds, “ꞂЄꞂRIC· DI· GRΛ· RЄX· ΛꞂGL· Z· FRΛꞂC”. Reverse: Long cross pattée, trio of pellets in each inner angle, the second and third quarter with an additional voided pellet between each trio, inner beaded border and legend surrounds, “VILLΛ: CΛLISIЄ”, outer beaded border and outer legend surrounds, “POSVI DЄVᙏ ΛDIVTORЄ ᙏЄVᙏ”. North-1427; Spink-1836. Some typical points of flatness, otherwise evenly worn, good Fine to near Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Hēnrīcus, Deī Grātiā, rēx Angliae et Franciae”, with an English translation of “Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England and France”. The reverse inner legend reads “vīlla Calisie”, with an English translation of “Village of Calais” – the nominative Latin word ‘vīlla’ with the Anglo-Norman ‘Caleis’, ‘Caleys’ in Middle-English (‘Calais’ in Latin is ‘Caletum’), written in an alternative spelling. The reverse outer legend reads “Posuī Deum Adiūtōrem Meum”, with an English translation of “I ordain God as my helper”.
