This piece belongs to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's "Rulers of England" commemorative series, issued in 2004 across several member territories including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Saint Kitts. Henry II is the historically weightful choice of the set — his reign from 1154 to 1189 saw the introduction of common law reforms that effectively built the foundation of English jurisprudence. The murder of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, and Henry's subsequent public penance, defined his reputation for centuries afterward.
This piece belongs to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank's "Rulers of England" commemorative series, issued in 2004 across several member territories including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Saint Kitts. Henry II is the historically weightful choice of the set — his reign from 1154 to 1189 saw the introduction of common law reforms that effectively built the foundation of English jurisprudence. The murder of Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral in 1170, and Henry's subsequent public penance, defined his reputation for centuries afterward.