1509–1526 Great Britain Silver Groat of Henry VIIII PCGS XF40

Hand-Hammered Coins From The Legendary Henry VIII

This coin comes from a period of cultural movement in Great Britain known as the “English Renaissance,” characterized by advances in music including development of the madrigal and epic poetry like Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queen and notable achievements in drama by the likes of William Shakespeare and Ben Johnson.

The Larger-Than-Life Reign Of Henry VIII

Struck nearly 500 years ago during the reign of King Henry VIII, this silver “Groat” was struck by hand and was worth about flour pence. Henry VIII is one of the most well-known monarchs in British history and certainly one of the most influential. While much has been made of his weight, Henry was obese only in the last years of his life. Most British school children learn this rhyme: “Divorced, Beheaded, Died — Divorced, Beheaded, Survived” to help them remember the fate of Henry’s six wives. His third wife, Jane Seymour, was his favorite, no doubt because she gave birth to the future King Edward VI. She died just 12 days after the birth of her son. Henry’s second wife, the immortal Anne Boleyn (her ghost is said to haunt the Tower of London) was beheaded because she did NOT produce a male heir. She DID produce a future queen, however, Elizabeth I.

One Of Only A Handful Of Graded Silver Groats Of This Type

This Silver Groat was struck sometime between 1509 and 1526 and features the crowned bust of King Henry VIII on the obverse while the reverse shows Henry’s Royal Coat of Arms over a long forked fourchée cross. It also comes certified and graded by the Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) as being in Extremely Fine-40 (XF40) condition. According to the current PCGS population report, only four coins like this have ever been graded, and only one is graded higher.

There’s an old English saying from medieval times that counsels “Blood without groats is nothing.” meaning the family without fortune is worthless. When you add this historic Silver Groat to your collection, it will provide you and your family with a story and pedigree that is simply priceless!