Edward VI AD 1547-1553 Base Silver Shilling Second issue, Tower mm. Grapple

Edward VI 1547-1553AD Base Silver Shilling Second issue

Crowned bust right/ Garnished shield.

Tower mint.   Mintmark Grapple   1549 AD

S2466, 29mm, 4.37g

Edward was the long hoped for son of Henry VIII and his 3rd wife Jane Seymour. The first monarch to be raised a Protestant Edward was only 9 when he succeeded his father in AD 1547. Initially his uncle Edward Seymour Duke of Somerset acted as regent. The early part of Edward’s reign saw much unrest and after 2 years Edward Seymour was replaced as regent by John Dudley Duke of Northumberland. More pragmatic than Edward Seymour he agreed to withdraw troops thereby restoring peace with France and Scotland.
Edward took a keen interest in measures which were taken by the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cramer to establish the Protestant church as well as those to prevent a Catholic revival.
During the last years of Henry VIII, the currency had become severely debased. Edward’s reign oversaw major reforms to the coinage. These included the introduction of the gold crown and half crown. High quality silver coins were also issued between AD 1551-1553 with the Fine Silver issue. In AD 1551 for the first time the silver crown and half-crowns were dated.