Edward VI 1547-1553 AD

The death of Edward, Prince of Wales was a decisive blow to Henry VI and the Lancastrians, as he was a much more competent and plausible leader than his increasingly feeble father. Whilst the son lived, Henry VI was much more useful alive than dead to the Yorkists. However, with the Prince of Wales gone, the situation had changed, and Henry VI conveniently died in Yorkist custody shortly after the Battle of Tewkesbury, almost certainly murdered on the orders Edward IV, who remained on the throne until he died in 1483.

The featured coin is a Rose Noble, introduced in 1464 and with a face value of 10 shillings. Silver was the monetary standard of the day, and a gold coin's face value and real value in relation to the silver currency was seldom the same. The value of the Noble had originally been 6/8d, but the value of gold relative to silver had increased and this had led to an exodus of gold to the continent. The issue of this coin and its sister gold denominations was an attempt to halt this trend.

Diameter 35mm, weight 7.604 grams Alloy 0.916 (22ct Crown gold), AGW Oz 0.2241
Estimated Value £2,950 (2018)