Houses of Lancaster and York, 1377-1485

Richard II 1377-1399 (grandson of Edward III, son of the Black Prince)

Henry IV 1399-1413 (grandson of Edward III, son of John of Gaunt)

Henry V 1413-1422 (son of Henry IV)

Henry VI 1422-1461 (son of Henry V)

Edward IV 1461-1483 (great grandson of Edmund of York, Edward III's youngest son)

Richard III 1483-1485 (uncle of Edward V)

Richard succeeded to the throne in June 1377. He had not yet come of age and England was ruled mainly by his uncle, John of Gaunt. Gaunt's misrule caused economic crises brought on by the Black Death and war with France. The resulting Peasants' Revolt of 1381 was the first crisis of Richard's reign. He handled it well, placating the rebels with false promises.

His request for money to fight France prompted Parliament to demand the dismissal of his favourites. Richard's refusal provoked Parliament into impeaching his chancellor, the Earl of Suffolk, and creating a commission to oversee the king's activities. When Richard declared these measures treasonable, Parliament and his opponents retaliated in 1388 by outlawing his closest friends, some of whom were executed. Richard appeared defeated: he submitted to the demands of the five 'Lords Appellant'. But in May 1389 he defied them, announcing his intention to rule independently.

Gaunt's return from Spain in late 1389 stabilized matters. For eight years Richard worked in apparent harmony with Gaunt and the Lords Appellant. Yet he was waiting for revenge. He gradually formed a second, stronger royalist party. In 1397 he arrested and tried three of the Appellants. Arundel was convicted of treason and executed, Warwick was banished and Gloucester imprisoned and murdered. Richard was granted revenues for life and the powers of Parliament were delegated to a committee. He also built up a power base in Cheshire.

In September 1398 a quarrel between two former Appellants, Gaunt's son Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk, gave the king an opportunity to banish them both. When Gaunt died in February 1399, Richard confiscated the vast Lancastrian estates, which would have passed to Bolingbroke. In May he foolishly left for Ireland.

Bolingbroke invaded England and rallied both the noble and popular support. Returning to England in August, Richard surrendered without a fight. In September he abdicated and Bolingbroke ascended the throne as King Henry IV. In October Richard was imprisoned in Pontefract Castle and died four months later.

1377 -1399 Richard II hammered silver halfpenny - Type 1j

obv RICHARD:REX:ANGL

Rev CIVITAS LON/DON - London mint

0.46g, 13.90mm

1377 -1399 Richard II hammered silver halfpenny Type 5 Small face, wide crown

Obv +RICARDxREX:ANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LONDON - London mint

0.46g, 13.67mm

1377 -1399 Richard II hammerd silver penny Class 1 III

Obv ***S REX: **** (RICHARD VS REX: ANGLIE)

Rev CIVI/TAS/DVN/*** Durham nint

1377 Richard II hammered silver penny

Obv RICARDVS REX ANGLIE

Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

1377-99 Richard II hammered silver half penny - Type 2

Obv +RICHARD x REX ANGLI

Rev CIVI/TAS/LOND/DON - London mint

In 1386 Henry joined a group of opposition leaders - the Lords Appellants - who outlawed Richard's closest associates and forced the King to accept their counsel. In 1398 Richard took revenge, banishing Henry after a court struggle. The following year, John of Gaunt died. Richard seized the family estates, depriving Henry of his inheritance and prompting him to invade England. Richard surrendered in August and Henry was crowned the following month.

His first task was to consolidate his position. Most rebellions were quashed easily but the revolt of Owen Glendower was more serious. Glendower aimed to install the Earl of March, Richard II's legitimate heir, as king. He captured Edmund Mortimer, March's uncle, and persuaded him to join them. Glendower then allied himself with Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, and his son Henry, called Hotspur. Hotspur's brief uprising, Henry's most serious challenge, ended when the King's forces killed him in battle near Shrewsbury in July 1403.

Northumberland's rebellion in 1408 was quickly suppressed and was the last armed challenge to Henry's authority. However, he also had to fight off Scottish border raids and conflict with the French. To finance these activities, Henry was forced to rely on parliamentary grants. From 1401 to 1406 Parliament repeatedly accused him of fiscal mismanagement and gradually acquired new powers over royal expenditures and appointments.

As Henry's health deteriorated, a power struggle developed between his favourite, Thomas Arundel, archbishop of Canterbury, and a faction headed by Henry's half brothers and Prince Henry. From 1408 to 1411 the government was dominated first by Archbishop Arundel and then the Henry. Argument raged over the best strategy to adopt in France, where civil war was raging; Henry wanted to resume war in France, but the king favoured peace. In 1411 the king recovered and the Prince of Wales was dismissed from the council. Uneasy relations between the prince and his father lasted until Henry IV's death in 1413.

1399 - 1413 Henry IV hammered silver penny - Rare double struck crown

Quatrefoil with pellet on reverse

Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

0.89g, 16.83mm

Henry succeeded his father as king in March 1413. Although he had to deal with conspiracies to put Edmund Mortimer, the Earl of March, on the throne, these were rarely a serious threat and did not distract him from his main objective: France. As well as demanding lands the French had surrendered in 1360, he claimed Normandy, Touraine and Maine, as well as areas never before held by England.

Hard and domineering, Henry could be ruthless and cruel. Yet he was admired - even by some French writers - as brave and honourable, with a commanding personality. At home, he governed well: law and order were dealt with by reviving the use of the King's Bench as a travelling court and both central and local administration operated smoothly.

Yet he was best when planning and executing his wars against France. Diplomacy ensured English command of the channel and, at home, he began both large-scale borrowing and parliamentary taxation to finance his ambitions. His success in raising the money reflected the enthusiasm he raised for the war. His main objective was to take the towns and fortresses of northern France and make them permanent English garrisons, exploiting the surrounding countryside to make the war pay its own way.

Henry invaded France in 1415 with a small army, winning a decisive victory at Agincourt while en route to Calais. Between 1417 and 1419 Henry followed up this success with the conquest of Normandy. Rouen surrendered in January 1419 and his successes forced the French to agree to the Treaty of Troyes in May 1420. Henry was recognised as heir to the French throne and regent of France. The following month he married Catherine, the daughter of Charles VI of France.

However, Charles VI's son continued the war. In 1422 Henry contracted dysentery and died at the siege of Meaux in August, leaving only his baby son as heir.

1413 - 1422 Henry V hammered silver half groat - pierced cross initial mark - Type C (a) Initial cross with pellet at centre, broken annulet to left of crown

1.69g, 22.32mm

Obv +HENRICxDIxGRA'xREX

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1413-22 Henry V hammered silver halfpenny - Type 10 - inital mark roundabout - Annulet to left:trefoil right by hair

Obv +HENRIC REX ANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

12.83mm, 045g

1413- 22 Henry V hammered silver half penny - Pierced cross initial mark - 0.925 FINE - Type 3, Small whole annulet either side of crown

+HENRIC :REX :ANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - lONDON MINT

0.46g, 12.67mm

Henry V 1413-1422 hammered silver penny

0.68g

1413 -22 Henry V hammered silver halfpenny - broken annulets by crown - earl hair - Type 5

Obv HENRIC REX ANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

0.42g, 13.57mm

1413- 22 Henry V hammered silver halfpenny - early hair type Type 5 broken annulets by crown

Obv +hENRICxREXxANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1413-22 Henry V hammered silver penny - mullet to left of crown

Quatrefoil with pellet reverse cross

Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

1413 -22 Henry V hammered silver penny - mullet, broken annulet by crown - Inital mark Cross Pattee

Quadrefoil at centre of reverse cross

Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

Henry was king from 1422 to 1461 and from 1470 to 1471 and whose incompetence helped cause the Wars of the Roses.

Henry was a small child when he succeeded his father Henry V in September 1422. After his father's victories against the French he was also proclaimed King of France.

By 1437, Henry was considered old enough to rule for himself. However, he was concerned mainly with religious piety and planning Eton College and King's College, Cambridge, and his court became divided. Ultimately, the Lancastrian Duke of Somerset squared up against Richard, Duke of York. As the English hold on France eroded, Henry's government lost prestige and authority, making civil war less unthinkable.

York's hopes of succeeding Henry were dashed by the birth of Henry's son, Edward, in October 1453. In 1455, York gathered forces and won a decisive victory at St Albans, killing Somerset and capturing the King. A Yorkist regime was set up and York was appointed Lord Protector when the King fell ill.

Henry recovered in 1456, York lost his power and hostilities were renewed in 1459. After a Yorkist defeat at Ludford Bridge, the Lancastrians took control, but their financial demands shrank their support. York's son, Edward, invaded England in 1460, aided by the Earl of Warwick. They captured Henry in July and York claimed the throne as heir to Richard II. However, he was killed in battle at Wakefield shortly afterwards, whereupon his son, Edward, renewed the family claim. Edwards defeated the Lancastrians in 1461. He was crowned King Edward IV in June.

Henry fled with his wife and son, returning to England in 1464 to support an unsuccessful Lancastrian rising. He was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. A quarrel between Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick led Warwick to restore Henry to the throne in October 1470. However, Edward soon returned to defeat and kill Warwick, before destroying the Lancastrian forces at Tewkesbury in May 1471. The death of Prince Edward in that battle sealed Henry's fate: he was murdered in the Tower of London soon afterwards.

Stunning condition Henry VI Annulet issue hammered silver half groat (1422-1427) Calais Mint

Standard F type JJ North 1429

Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC DN

1.78g, 20.39mm

1434- 1435 Henry VI hammered silver half groat (2 pence)

HENRIC DIN GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC HYB - leaf mascle type - Calais mint

1422 Henry VI First reign - hammered silver halfpence London mint 0.46g, 14.44mm

HENRIC REX ANGL

CIVI TAS LONDON

1399 - 1413 Henry VI hammered silver penny,late bust, Cross type V, Muletts by crown, quatrefoil-with-pellet at the centre of reverse cross, annulet in qtr.

1422 -61 Henry VI hammered silver half penny - roundabout Initial cross- pellets by crown

Possible satire leaf issue

Obv HENRIC REX ANGLI

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1422-61 Henry VI hammered silver halfpenny- annulet issue -Type A1a 'Bib' chest

Annulets in VIL and CAL qtrs

S.1849; N.1435

Obv +HENRICxREXxANGL'

Rev VIL LAx CAL ISx

Size comparison with penny

1431 - 32 Henry VI hammered silver farthing - Pine cone mascle issue

Obv +HENRIC REX ANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

0.26g,9.74mm

1427-1430 Henry VI hammered silver penny - Rosette Mascle issue

Satires by hair, quadrefoil with pellet in reverse cross

Obv HENRICVS REX ANGLIE

Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

1422-61 Henry VI hammered silver half penny, satire issue- Satire on breast - Pellets by crown

Obv +hENRIC REX ANGIL

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

King Edward IV was was declared successor to Henry VI in 1460. Following York's death that December, Edward defeated Henry's Lancastrian supporters before being crowned Edward IV in June 1461.

Until 1470 he concentrated on suppressing opposition to his rule. However, his real problem lay in the Earl of Warwick, 'the Kingmaker'. Warwick expected his support in 1461 to bring him power. However, Edward, while apparently interested only in women and pageantry, was determined to rule independently. In 1464 he embarrassed Warwick, who was planning a political marriage for Edward, by disclosing his secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner.

By showering favours on Elizabeth's relatives, Edward began to build up a faction to counter Warwick. Gradually Warwick lost his influence. Humiliated, he allied himself to Edward's brother George, Duke of Clarence, and Henry VI's queen, Margaret of Anjou. Fleeing to France in October 1469, he and Margaret's Lancastrian forces gathered, invading England in September 1470. Edward fled to the Netherlands until March 1471, when he and his brother Richard, duke of Gloucester, returned to England. Taking London, he defeated and killed Warwick at Barnet before defeating the Lancastrians at Tewkesbury. Henry VI was put to death in the Tower.

The second part of Edward's reign, from 1471 to 1483, was a period of relative order, peace, and security. He was popular, had a large personal income and was less in need of parliamentary grants than his predecessors, so levied fewer taxes and called Parliament only six times. Commercial treaties, external peace and internal order revived trade, benefiting customs duties and other revenues. Councils were set up to govern in the Marches of Wales and in the north.

Edward died in 1483 and Edward and Richard were left in the protection of their uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester. He housed them in the Tower of London, where he probably had them killed. On the day after the date set for Edward V's coronation Parliament unanimously requested the Duke to take the throne. He accepted and was crowned Richard III.

1461 Edward IV hammered silver groat-First reign -Initial mark Long cross fitchee

Trefoils on cusps except above crown

Obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1471 Edward IV hammered silver groat

Obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1464 Edward IV First reign light coinage Type VI Very clear London, Initial mark sun on both sides, Quatrefoils at neck, Fleur on cusps except over crown 3.01g, 25.03mm

obV EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC

rev CIVITAS LONDON

1464-5 Edward IV hammered silver half groat-

Quatrefoils by neck- standard F type

obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANC HIBERINE

rev CIVITAS LONDON - London mint

18.50mm,1.11g

Medieval hammered silver halfpenny 0.36g, 12.22mm Weight of an Edward IV 1464- 70, not confirmed ID yet

rev CIVITAS LONDON

1461- 4 Edward IV hammered silver halfpenny - Heavy coinage Class 1a - extra pellets by crown - London mint,

obv EDWARD REX ANG

rev CIVITAS LONDON

0.47g,13.03mm

1471-83 Edward IV second reign hammered silver half penny 0.37g,12.74mm

obv EDWARD DEI GRA REX

1480-1500 Archbishop Thomas Rotherham hammered silver penny

Quartrefoil at the centre of reverse with pellet

1461 Edward IV hammered silver penny - York Archiepiscopal Issue - Type VIIiii - quatrefoil each side of neck - Quatefoil - with-pellet at centre of reverse.

Obv EDWARD+DI+GRA+REX+ANGL

1471 -1483 Edward IV hammered silver groat - possible annulet and pellet initial mark

Obv EDWARD *****

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

1472 Edward IV hammered silver groat Type 10 , initial mark sun both sides, trefoils by neck, long cross fitchee

obv EDWARD DIA.REX.ANGL.Z.FRANC

Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

25.18mm, 2.79g

1477 Edward IV hammered silver half groat - Rose mintmark, C on breast

Obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRANCE

Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR Canterbury mint

Sede Vacante 1472-75 Edward IV hammered silver (Archiepiscopal issue) penny

G & key by bust Reverse plain cross

Obv EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL - York mint

1464/5 Edward IV hammered silver penny - Type VIIi - 0.93g, 18.07mm

obv EDWARD DI GRA RE ANGL

Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York Mint - Archiepiscopal issue

King of England from April to June 1483, he was deposed and probably murdered by Richard III, before his coronation.

The eldest surviving son of Edward IV, he was born when his father was in brief exile in Holland after being deposed by the Earl of Warwick. After Edward IV had reclaimed his crown, young Edward was made prince of Wales in June 1471. He was sent with his mother to Ludlow in 1473 to be titular ruler of Wales and the Welsh Marches, staying there for much of the rest of his father's reign.

Upon Edward IV's death in April 1483, Edward became king, aged 12. His uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was appointed protector. Conflict between Gloucester and the Woodville nobles who dominated Edward V soon led the duke to arrest the Woodvilles and gain possession of Edward and his younger brother, Richard. The two princes were housed in the Tower of London, then a royal residence as well as a prison.

Edward V's brief reign came to an end on 26 June, when parliament accepted Gloucester's claim that Edward IV's marriage was invalid and his children illegitimate. It proclaimed Gloucester Richard III and, soon afterwards, the two princes disappeared from the Tower. It is possible they were murdered by Richard's agents in August 1483, but responsibility for the crime has also been attributed to Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, and to Richard's successor, Henry VII. Skeletons found in the Tower in 1674 are thought to be those of Edward and his brother.