Henry V 1413-1422 AD

Henry V (1413-22), variety of Class C, Half-Noble, 3.41g, London, m.m. pierced cross, king, crowned, standing facing in ship holding sword and shield, annulet on rudder (possibly broken), no mullet above shield or by sword arm, no quatrefoil below sail, reads hib, rev. floriate cross extending from a central panel containing a letter h, quatrefoil in domine quarter, weakness in legends, generally very fine and an unrecorded early variety of Henry V Half-Noble This particularly curious piece displays characteristics more akin to that listed for Class C nobles (annulet on rudder, HIB variety/quatrefoil in AVTEM quarter). The punches are that which can be expected for the earlier stages of Class C and certainly not before.

Henry V became king in 1413. By 1420, England controlled much of France and seemed poised to rule the whole nation. Early in 1421, however, England’s forces suffered losses in battles with the French and Scots. An important general, Henry’s brother the Duke of Clarence, was killed. Henry V returned to France and personally orchestrated a comeback. The king, however, became ill, abruptly returned to England, and died in 1422.

His nine-year reign was extremely successful, and Henry V became a legend. Many coins were minted during those nine years, and quite a few survive.