Henry VII AD 1485-1509 Gold Angel

Henry VII AD 1485-1509 Gold Angel

St Michael spearing dragon / Ship with shield on masthead

mm/ cross crosslet

S2186; 28mm, 5.02g

small area of edge loss, probably due to a very bold strike.

Henry Tudor was the son of a Lancastrian, Edmund Earl of Richmond, and Margaret Beaufort who was a descendant of John of Gaunt. His father died before he was born whilst his mother Margaret was only 13 at the time of his birth. By AD 1483 Henry was the senior member of the house of Lancaster and was actively being promoted by his mother as an alternative to the Yorkists. Landing in Wales in August AD 1485 the 2 armies met at Bosworth Fields where Richard was defeated and killed.
Claiming the throne Henry was crowned in October AD 1485. The following year he made good on his pledge of marrying Elizabeth of York thereby uniting the Houses of Lancaster and York under the Tudor rose. Although he faced a number of threats Henry effectively established his rule and proved to be an able administrator and was also fiscally prudent. The were a number of reforms to the currency during his reign including the introduction of the magnificent gold sovereign as well as the introduction of the silver testoon and high quality silver profile coinage.
Henry was the last English king to win his throne in battle.