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A Henry VII hammered silver groat of the celebrated profile issue, struck at the Tower Mint in London in the final years of the reign with the pheon mintmark. Its lifelike portrait of the first Tudor king is regarded as the first true Renaissance portrait on English coinage. Certified by PCGS as VF 20, and ex John P. Burnham Collection (Stack’s Bowers Galleries, 2026).
Description
For centuries, English coins had shown the king as a stylised, forward-facing figure that looked much the same from one reign to the next. Around 1504, Henry VII broke with that tradition. His new groats carried a realistic profile portrait in the Renaissance manner, showing the king as an individual, with his distinctive features and flowing hair. The design is generally attributed to the German engraver Alexander of Bruchsal, and the same portrait appeared on the testoon, England’s first shilling.
The obverse shows the crowned profile bust of Henry VII facing right, wearing an arched crown with a triple band, with the legend HENRIC VII DI GRA REX AGL Z FR (“Henry VII, by the Grace of God, King of England and France”). The reverse bears the quartered royal arms on a square-topped shield over a long cross fourchée, with the abbreviated legend POSVI DEV ADIVTORE MEV (“I have made God my helper”), adapted from the Psalms.
The portrait proved so successful that it outlived the king. After Henry VII’s death in 1509, his son Henry VIII kept it on his own groats for another seventeen years, changing only the numeral in the legend. This coin comes from the reign of the king who ended the Wars of the Roses and founded the Tudor dynasty.
Please refer to the photos as part of the description, as they are a critical part of accurately representing this item’s condition and details.
Specifications Country England Ruler Henry VII (1485–1509) Denomination Groat (four pence) Date 1505–1509 (undated) Mint Tower Mint, London Mintmark Pheon Classification Profile issue, regular issue, triple band to crown References SCBC 2258; North 1747 Composition Sterling silver (.925) Certification PCGS VF 20 PCGS Certification #54238150(verifiable on the PCGS website) Provenance Ex John P. Burnham Collection; Stack’s Bowers Galleries, Summer 2026 Global Showcase sale, September 2026, lot 44510 Condition
Certified by PCGS as VF 20. Even wear consistent with the grade, with the portrait, crown, and most of the legends clearly visible. Some light scratches in the fields, as shown in the photographs. Grey toning. A well-centered example on a reasonably round flan. Please examine the photographs carefully.
Grading & Returns
Certified coins are offered at the grade shown on the holder. For coins not certified by a third-party grading service, any grade stated in this listing represents our good-faith opinion. If the coin does not meet your expectations, it may be returned within 14 days for a full refund in accordance with the return terms stated in this listing. Certified coins must be returned in the original, undamaged holder.
Shipping
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