2016-12-06 Tue

“When a world of men
Could not prevail with all their oratory,
Yet hath a woman's kindness overrul'd;”
William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 1

This Gold noble of Henry VI was minted in London 1422-1427 AD. This coin was circulated in the first reign of King Henry VI.

Today on 6th December 1421 King Henry VI the last Lancastrian ruler of England was born. He ascended the throne of England when he was Eight Month old in 1949; a regency council ran the affairs of England until Henry was considered old enough to rule.

This Gold noble of Henry VI is an annulet issues. Its obverse depicts the king standing on the ship holding a sword and a shield with an annulet by his arms within a circle and a continuous legend “HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC DNS HYB” which means Henry by the Grace of God king of England and France Lord of the Irish.

The reverse depicts a cross in the centre and crown in the arc like design which encircles the cross within the dotted Circle. A continuous legend “IHC AUT' TRANSIENS PER MEDIUM ILLORU' IBAT” which means but Jesus passing through their midst went his way. There is also an annulet depicted in the legend and one annulet in the ‘spandril’ with mintmark ‘lis’.

The result of Henry VI father’s successes against the French, King Henry VI also became the king of France in 1431. But due to his simple mind and straightforward thinking he faced many hurdles in his reign. England lost the hundred year war with France and was facing a Civil war within the country later known as the War of Roses.

War of Roses took place due to disagreement between the two Strong noble houses of England – the house of York and Lancastrian. During this civil war king Henry VI lost his hold on England throne and was imprisoned for nine years.

Later he again ascended the throne when the strong Lancastrian army rescued him but after one year, when the house of Lancastrian loss. King Henry VI was imprisoned in London Tower and Murdered later.

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