★ Likely the Finest Recorded Example ★

Great Britain, Plantagenet. Henry V (1413-1422) AV Noble. Tower (London) mint, struck 1413-1422. Class G. ҺЄꞂRIC' ∗ DI' ◦ GRΛ' ◦ RЄX ◦ ΛꞂGL' Ƶ FRΛꞂC' ◦ DꞂS ◦ ҺУB', king standing facing within ship, holding sword and quartered shield, waves below; all within beaded border / ✠ IҺ'C ∗ ΛVTЄᙏ ◦ TRΛꞂSIЄꞂS ◦ PЄR ◦ ᙏЄDIV' ◦ ILLORV' ◦ IBΛT, ornamental cross with lis terminals and H within centre, crowns over lions over trefoils in quarters, within beaded and linear tressure, trefoils in spandrels. SCBC 1747; Schneider 263 (same dies); North 1375. 7.00g, 33mm, 11h.

Extremely Fine; previously NGC graded MS 63 (#4885151-002). Extremely Rare; this class known only from a very few examples, of which this is likely the finest recorded.

From the Long Valley River Collection;
Ex private Japanese collection;
Ex Spink & Son Ltd, Auction 12027, 4 December 2012, lot 35.

Henry V is perhaps most well known to the modern audience through the dramatisation of his life in Shakespeare's history play 'Henry V'. The play’s events, based on historical events, present Henry in his element - the battlefield. Renowned by historians as one of the great warrior kings of his age, Henry's impressive victories in campaigns fought in the Hundred Years' war set him apart from other kings and commanders of the era. These campaign's culminated in France's defeat at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, from which Henry returned in triumph to England.