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1/2 Penny - Henry VI 1st reign, Cross-pellet issue
| Issuer | England |
|---|---|
| Year | 1454-1461 |
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| Composition | Silver |
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| Obverse description | Facing crowned effigy of King Henry VI contained within an inner beaded circle, the crown rendered in a stylised gothic manner characteristic of late Lancastrian hammered coinage. Saltires flank the neck on either side, serving as distinctive diagnostic marks of this Cross-pellet issue. The royal portrait is executed in a crude but bold style typical of mid-fifteenth century English halfpence. A circular Latin legend in uncial lettering surrounds the central design within the outer border. |
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| Mintage | ND (1454-1461) - London mint |
| Additional information |
The Cross-pellet issue belongs to the final stretch of Henry VI's first reign, struck as Lancastrian authority was visibly collapsing under the pressure of Yorkist advances. By 1460, Henry was effectively a captive king following his capture at the Battle of Northampton. Coins continued to be struck in his name through the Tower mint, but the political machinery behind them was dissolving — Edward IV's accession in March 1461 ended the series abruptly.
At roughly 0.46g, these halfpennies were already reduced from earlier Henrician standards, reflecting decades of bullion pressure and the near-exhaustion of royal finances by the mid-1450s.