Rare York Mint Gold Noble of King Henry VI

Henry VI, first reign (1422-61), gold Noble of Six Shillings and Eight Pence, Annulet issue (1422-30), York mint, King standing in ship holding sword and shield, annulet by sword arm, lis at stern and after King's name, legend surrounding, h EnRIC'+ DI; GRA; REX: AnGL; Z: FRAnC; DNS; hYB', rev. initial mark lis, h at centre, ornate cross with lis terminals, crown over lion in each angle, within beaded and linear tressure of eight arcs, fleurs in spandrels, annulet in upper right spandrel, beaded circle surrounding, annulet stops in legend, +Ih'C* AVTo TRAnSIEnSo PERo mEDIVmo ILLORV'o IBAT, outer beaded border both sides, weight 6.83g (Schneider 302A; N.1416; S.1804). A touch flat in places both sides, but with an excellent depiction of the King, good very fine / very fine and rare.

The York Mint struck gold coins for the first time ever in this reign from 12th August 1423 to 14th August 1424, to a total weight of 2,538 pounds of gold which would have had a face value of circa £42,310. By comparison London Tower Mint issued circa £57,767 face value in the following 12-month period after York ceased striking gold, but by contrast London issued just over £500,000 worth of face value gold in this issue.

These York Mint pieces feature a fleur de lis over the stern of the ship and being only struck for a year are quite rare today.