| Description |
TUDOR. Henry VIII. 1509-1547. AR Medal (50mm, 54.68 g, 12h). Commemorating the King’s Assumption of the Title “Supreme Head of the Church of England”. By Henry Bayse (or Basse), chief engraver. Dated 1545. HENRICVS OCTA ANGLIÆ FRAN CI ET HIB REX FIDEI DEFENSOR ET/IN TERR ECCLE ANGLI ET HI BE SVB CHRIST CAPVT SVPREMVM (Henry, eighth king of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, and on Earth, supreme head of the Church of England and Ireland under Christ), bust right, wearing a jeweled cap, ermine robe and jeweled collar; crowned Tudor rose above; crowned harp to left; crowned portcullis to right; crowned lis below; quadrate stops in legend / H R/האינריכוש/שמיני ג מלך באמונה/גוז ובעדת אנגליאי/וחיבירניאי מתחת משיח/ראש עליוז/ΕΝΡΙΚΟΣ ΟϘTΔΟΟΣ TPIΣ/ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΣ • ΠΙΣΤΕΩΣ ΠΡΟ= /ΣΤΑΤΗΣ • ΕΝ ΤΗ ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΑ/ΤΗΣ ΑΓΓΛΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΙΒΕΡΝΙ-/ΑΣ • ΥΠΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΩ • ΑΚΡΗ/• (rosette) Η ΚΕΦΑΛΗ • (lis) •/• Londini 1545 • in thirteen lines; rosette and lis flanking ראש עליוז. MI (Hawkins) 44 and pl. III, 6; G. F. Hill, “The medal of Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church,” NC (1916), pp. 194-195; R. Bishop, “Hebraica Veritas,” Spink Auction Insider (Winter 2009-2010), pp. 18-21 = Eimer 26 and note and pl. I, 26a (this medal referenced and illustrated). An original striking with a fine late portrait of Henry VIII. The first coronation medal in the English series. Ex Spink and Son, London. |
