• Metal detecting holidays in England with the World's most successful metal detecting club.

    Twinned with Midwest Historical Research Society USA

     

    The Tudor Period 1485-1603 Timeline link

     

    House of Tudor, 1485-1603
    Henry VII 1485-1509 (grandson of Henry V, wife's second husband)
    Henry VIII 1509-1547 (Henry VII's second son)
    Edward V 1547-1553 (Henry's son by Jane Seymour)
    Mary 1553-1558 (Henry's daughter by Queen Catherine)
    Elizabeth I 1558-1603 (Henry's daughter by Anne Boleyn)

     

    Henry VII 1485-1509

     

    Henry VII was the founder of the Tudor dynasty and the king who succeeded in ending the Wars of the Roses.

    The son of Edmund Tudor, Henry was born after his father's death. He was brought up by his uncle, Jasper Tudor, who fled with Henry to France after the Lancastrian defeat in 1471. Following Richard III's usurpation of the throne in 1483, Henry promised to marry Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward IV. This united Richard's opponents and, in 1485, Henry landed at Milford Haven. He killed Richard at the Battle of Bosworth and was crowned in October 1485. Having secured parliamentary recognition of his title, he married Elizabeth of York in January 1486.

    His throne was far from secure. His Lancastrian blood was illegitimate and he was constantly plagued with conspiracies. He consolidated his position by a treaty with France that provided both recognition and a handsome pension. Trade agreements with the Netherlands and a marriage treaty with Scotland cut off European support for Perkin Warbeck, a challenger for the throne. Finally, Henry secured a marriage treaty between his eldest son, Arthur, and the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon, in 1501. Although Arthur died the next year, the marriage went ahead, this time between Catherine and Henry's second son, the future Henry VIII.

    Yet Henry had also to boost his finances: he knew he needed financial independence to free him from Parliament and creditors. Henry avoided war and increased administrative efficiency, promoted trade and enforced royal fiscal rights to the point of ruthlessness, leaving a fortune to his successor and a legacy of hatred for some of his financial ministers.

    Money could buy power, but only the law brought respect. The royal council was reborn as the Court of Star Chamber and dealt with judicial matters. Special arrangements were made to promote better order in Wales and the North by setting up special councils and more powers were entrusted to the justices of the peace. Medieval rule, in which local law and custom dominated, was slowly being transformed into a single state subject to royal decrees. When he died in 1509, Henry left something quite new: a safe throne, a solvent government and a prosperous and reasonably united kingdom.

     


    Henry VII groat and half groat size comparison- 4 pence and 2 pence

    Groats

    1507-9 Henry VII Regular profile issue hammered silver groat - Triple banded crown - Pheon initial mark

    2.90g, 27.51mm

    Obv HENRIC VII DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRA

    Rev POSUI DEUM ADIUTO(R)E MEU(M)

     

    1493-5 AD Henry VII Class 1 hammered silver groat (4 pence).

    2.6g - 25.21mm

    1504-9 Henry VII hammerd silver groat
    1505-9 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Pheon mintmark
    1485-7 Henry VII hammered silver groat 1505-9 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Pheon mintmark

    Fixed by our goldsmith

    1504- 7 Henry VII hammered silver groat - two arches unjewelled to crown, Crosslet im Obv hENRIC DI GRA REX ANGLIE Z FR Rev CIVI/TAS/LOND/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Two arches to crown, only outer jeweled - Bust 3 (pupils to eyes, realistic hair)

    Mint mark Rose - trefoil stops - trefoil stops to reverse legend

    Obv + hENRIC DI*GRA* ******

    Rev *CIVI/TAS*/*LON/DON- London mint

    22.5mm, 2.58g

    1493-5 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Lis mintmark 1487-8 Henry VII hammered silver groat

    1504 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Crosslet mint mark - Tentaive issue - Double band to crown

    Obv HENRIC VII DI GRA REX AGL Z F

    Interesting Obv legend not in JJ North with AGL instead of ANGL - It matches half groat legend of the period

    2.90g, 26.41mm

    1485 - 90 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Satires by neck - Halved sun and rose initial mark - Open crown - Type 1b

    1422 Henry VI hammered silver groat - annulets by neck

    Rev VIL/LA/CAL/IS - Calais mint

    1485-90 Henry VII hammered silver groat - Two arches jewelled crown - Class IIIb - pansy

    Obv hENRICVS DEI *****

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

     

     

     

    Interesting coin dug in pastureland so one face exposed to oxygen- one face has horn silver crust that needs 'cooking' to remove crust

    1493- 1498 Henry VII hammered silver groat- Two arches unjewelled - Type 3b I.m pansy, new bust

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - Satire stops - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver groat

     

    1485-1509 Henry VII hammered silver groat - type 2

    Obv hENRIC ****

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON- London mint - Double rosette stops

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver groat
    1504-5 Henry VII hammered silver groat Cross-crosslet

    1485-1509 Henry VII hammered silver groat -Type 3c

    Crozier ends on cross

    Obv DI+GRA*REX***

    Rev TAS/*LON/D - London mint

    Half groats

    1490-1500 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Class IIIc, Tun mintmark, one arch jewelled one arch unjewelled

    Obv HENRICUS DEI GRACIA REX ANGLIE ET FRANC DNS IBAR

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    19.80mm, 1.57g

    1486-1500 Henry VII hammered silver half groat

    King and Archbishop Morton jointly - rosette stops

    Double arched crown - Class IIIb

    Obv HENRICVS DI GRA REX AGL Z A

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

     

    Henry VII 1486- 1504 hammered silver half groat

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A** Z FR- Tun Mintmark - Class II

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1.37g, 18.94

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half groat

    Archb Savage - keys by neck , no tressure:ornate lettering, mm martlet

    Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    Mint condition hammered silver half Groat, Looks like a Henry VII 1485 but I cannot ID it exactly in the book- drop me a mail if you are a hammered buff and can help(y) 1485 Henry VII hammered silver half groat
    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half groat 1.21g 19.05mm 1508 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - York Archb Bainbridge

    1485-90 Henry VII hammered silver half groat

    One jewelled, one unjewelled arch Type 3c

    rev CIVITASCANTOR (Cantebury mint)

    1501 -1507 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - York Episcopal mint, Archbishop Savage, key each side of bust , double arched crown 1.24g, 18.26mm

    Obv HENRICUS DEI GRACIA REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACHI - York

    1490-4 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - F type London broken tressure to crown - Rose mint mark

    1485 -90 Henry VII hammered silver half groat 19.80, 1.49g

    CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint Class II

    Archbishop Morton

    1508 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Archbishop Bainbridge - cross keys below shield - Marlett mintmark - York mint

    19.93mm, 1.38g

    1485-1509 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Episcopal issue - King and Bishop jointly, Initial mark Tun, arched crown, plain reverse cross. Ornamental terminal

    Obv + hENRIC DI GRA REX ANGLIE

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1490 - 1500 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Two arches unjewelled - Class IIIc

    King and Archbishop Morton jointly ?

    Obv HENRICVS DI GRA REX AGL Z

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    Double struck

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half groat

    Archb Savage - keys by neck , no tressure:ornate lettering, mm martlet

    Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    1493 -1498 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - crown, one arch jewelled, one arch unjewelled - Type 3b

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1485 -1509 Henry VII hammered silver half groat

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

     

    1490 - 1500 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - two arches jewelled - no lis to 7 tressures, Tun mint mark

    King and Archbishop Morton jointly - no stops

    Obv hENRIC DI *** ANGL ZF

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1490 - 1500 Henry VII hammered silver half groat- Two arches unjewelled crown

    King and Archbishop Morton Class IIIc

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1485 - 1509 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Archb Savage

    Keys by neck

    Obv HENRIC DI GRAxREXxANGL

    Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Two arches jewelled to crown - Type 3

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1485 - 1509 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Archb Savage

    Keys by neck

    Obv *** GRAxREXxANG **

    Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    1483-5 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - double arched jeweled- Tun mint mark

    CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

     

    1493-5 Henry VII hammered silver half groat

    1493-5 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - rosette stops - Tun mint mark

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1485- 1509 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Long cross forchee

    Archbishop Morton - rosette stops in legend

    Rev /TOR/ - Canterbury mint

    1526-44 Henry VIII hammered silver groat - Lis mint mark

    1502-4 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Marlet mint mark

    York

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Two arches unjewelled

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

     

    1502- 4 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Marlett mint-mark

    Mint 1498-9 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Tun mint mark - double arched crown

    Obv HENRIC ***ANGLI Z FR

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1502-4 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - Martlet mint mark

    York - keys below shield - Archbishop Bainbridge

    Henry VII 1486- 1504 hammered silver half groat

    Obv hENRIC DI'GRA ***

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

     

    1485-1509 Henry VII hammered silver half groat - double stuck crown

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR- Canterbury mint

     
       

    Sovereign Penny

     

     

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver penny
    1485 AD Henry VII Sovereign penny - York, Archbishop. Rotherham, keys below shield type

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Archbishop Rotherham - Keys below shield - York

    1490-1504 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny, No initial mark

    Archbishop Rotherham issue - key beneath shield

    Obv King entroned holding septre and orb,two double pillars

    Rev York mint

    1490-1504 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny, Pansy mintmark

    Bishop Richard Fox issue - letters by shield (1494-1501)

    Obv King entroned holding septre and orb

    Rev CIVI/TAS/DVR/REM - Durham mint

    14.69mm, 0.50g

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver penny - York Archb Rotherham. Key below shield , no pillar to throne.

    1485-90 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny

    York Archb Rotherham Keys below shield - single pillar

    1485-90 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Halved lis and Rose initial mark

    Obv King enthroned holding orb and sceptre - two double pillars

    0.66g, 13.64mm

    1490-1504 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny, No initial mark

    Archbishop Rotherham issue - key beneath shield

    Obv King entroned holding septre and orb,two double pillars

    Rev York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Keys by shield - Archbishop Rotherham - pillars to throne

    York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Keys by shield - Archbishop Rotherham - no pillars to throne

    York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Keys by shield - Archbishop Rotherham - no pillars to throne

    York mint

    1485 AD Henry VII Sovereign penny - York, Archbishop. Rotherham, keys below shield type

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - keys below shield - Archb Rotherham

    Obv CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    1485 -1509 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - RD by shield

    Throne has one pillar

    Bishop Fox - Durham mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny
    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny

    1485-90 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Halved lis and Rose initial mark

    Obv King enthroned holding orb and sceptre - two double pillars

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1493-5 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - RD by shield -Durham mint - Bishop Sherwood

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Keys by shield - Archbishop Rotherham - no pillars to throne

    York mint

     

    1485 - 1509 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - DR by shield

    Bishop Sherwood

    1526 - 1544 Henry VIII hammered silver sovereign penny - Star both sides, radiant star Obv only

    CD besides shield - Bishop Cuthbert Tunstall

     

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Keys by shield - Archbishop Rotherham - no pillars to throne

    York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Keys by shield - Archbishop Rotherham - no pillars to throne

    York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - Archbishop Rotherham - no pillars to throne

    1490-1504 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny

     

    1485 - 1509 Henry VII hammered silver sovereign penny - DR by shield

    Bishop Sherwood

     

    Long cross penny

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver penny fragment

    Amazing find - ex rare Irish 1496-1505 Henry VII hammered silver penny- Late portrait issue. Large rose to centre of reverse cross.

    Rose as pellets in reverse cross and rose to left side of crown - unknown type

    These are crudely made and no example exists with a legend as they are so poor

    This example has a partial legend of hYB EZ or badly formed REX.

    Half penny

    Tiny 1485 Unrecorded Henry VII 'brushed hair' type hammered silver halfpenny - legend does match any known Henry's 10.88mm, 0.35g

    Obv HENRICVS A / SIE x H**

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON

     

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny - Cross furchee - Open crown

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny - Cross furchee - Single arched crown

    Obv HENRIC *** REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    Tiny 1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - rev cross fourchee - wide hair bust - Type 3 single arched crown

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny - wide hair, wide cleft reverse cross end

    Obv HENRICVS REX

    Rev **** ON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny - Cross furchee - Open crown

    Obv HENRIC *** REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    0.39g,12.55mm

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - open crown

    Obv HENRICVS *****

    Rev - CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    12.04mm, 0.29g

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver farthing - double arched crown

    Obv CIVI/TAS/EBO /RACI -York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - rev cross fourchee - wide hair bust - Type 3 single arched crown

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny- Brush hair - single arched crown

    Obv hENRIC DI GRA REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    0.32g, 11.79

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - Single Arched crown- Cross ends fourchee

    Obv hENRIC DI GRA REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON -London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny- Brush hair - single arched crown- im.Pheon

    Obv hENRIC DI GRA REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485- 1509 Henry VII hammered silver half penny -single arched crown, long cross fourchee, wide hair

    Rev AS/CA - Canterbury mint

     

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - Single Arched crown- Cross ends fourchee

    Obv hENRIC DI GRA REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LOND/DON- London mint

    1485 Henry VII 'brushed hair' type hammered silver halfpenny  

     

     

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny - Cross furchee - Open crown

    im.Pheon: 'brushed hair' type

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - rev cross fourchee - wide hair bust - Type 3 single arched crown

    Rev CIVI/TAS/CAN/TOR - Canterbury mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - rev cross fourchee - wide hair bust - Type 3 single arched crown

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver penny fragment - Archiepiscopal issue - York mint, Cross ends fourchee

    Long cross

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - single arched crown -Cross furchee

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny - Cross furchee - Open crown

    Obv RIC ***

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - single arched crown

    'brushed hair' type

    Obv h *****
    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - single arched crown

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - Single Arched crown- Cross ends fourchee

    Obv hENRIC DI GRA REX

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON -London mint

    1485- 1509 Henry VII 'brushed hair' type hammered silver halfpenny

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON

    Tiny 1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - rev cross fourchee - wide hair bust - Type 3 single arched crown

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A

    Rev CIVI/TAS/LON/DON - London mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - single arched crown -Cross furchee

    1485 - 1509 Henry VII hammered silver penny - uncertain initial mark - star on brest

    Rev CIVI/TAS/EBO/RACI - York mint

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - single arched crown 0.34g, 11.95g

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver half penny - Cross furchee - Single arched crown

    Obv HE *** REX

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - single arched crown -Cross furchee
       
       

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - rev cross fourchee - wide hair bust - Type 3 single arched crown

    Obv HENRIC DI GRA REX A

     

     

    1485 Henry VII hammered silver halfpenny - single arched crown -Cross furchee

     

    Edward VI 1547 1553

     

    Edward V was the only legitimate son of Henry VIII whose mother and Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour, died 12 days after his birth. He became king on his father's death in January 1547, but government fell to a council of regency arranged by Henry VIII before his death. In the event, Edward's uncle, Edward Seymour, duke of Somerset, wielded almost supreme power as regent, with the title of protector.

    Somerset's first attempts to repeal treason and heresy laws brought a state of religious and social discord and he was forced to introduce the Prayer Book of 1549 and an Act of Uniformity to enforce it. Written by Thomas Cranmer, the Prayer Book hedged around the nature of the mass - service or sacrament - and just antagonised Protestants and Roman Catholics alike.

    This unrest was worsened by an inflationary crisis that saw prices double between 1547 and 1549. In the summer of 1549, peasants in Cornwall and Devonshire revolted against the Prayer Book, while those in Norfolk rose up against economic and social injustices. When Somerset then agreed to an unsuccessful war with Scotland and France, he was arrested in October 1549 and executed for treason two years later.

    Somerset's fall was engineered largely by the man who succeeded him - John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. He pulled England out its wars and ruthlessly cracked down on social dissent. Like Edward, he sympathised with the more extreme Protestant reformers, imprisoning Henry VIII's more conservative bishops and looting the church. The new Prayer Book of 1552 was avowedly Protestant; altars were turned into tables, clerical vestments were downgraded and religious orthodoxy was enforced by a new and more stringent Act of Uniformity.

    However, in January 1553 Edward showed the first signs of tuberculosis. In May it had become evident that he was dying. Edward's legal successor was Mary, who would undo all of Northumberland's work. With Edward's support, Northumberland devised a new order of succession. They declared Mary illegitimate and passing the throne to Northumberland's daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, and her male heirs. It was a nice try but, following Edward's death on 6th July 1553, Lady Jane Grey was Queen for just nine days before Mary, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, won the kingdom's support and was crowned Mary I.

    1551-3 Edward VI hammered silver shilling (12 pence) - mint mark 'y'

    5.68g, 33mm

    Huge Edward 1547 AD VI hammered silver shillling (12 pence)
    Edward VI 1550 AD hammered silver penny
    1547-53 Edward VI hammered silver sixpence forgery
     

    1461-85 Edward VI hammered silver groat - Crown mint mark

    London mint