Henry VIII

Henry VIII, Supremacy of the Church, cast silver restitutional medal, 1545, on the King's Assumption of the title "Supreme Head of the Church of England", after an original attributed to Henry Bayse (or Basse), chief engraver, bust right, wearing jeweled cap, ermine robe and Collar, legend in two lines around, HENRICVS OCTA ANGLIÆ FRAN CI ET HIB REX FIDEI DEFENSOR ET/IN TERR ECCLE ANGLI ET HI BE SVB CHRIST CAPVT SVPREMVM, rev., legend in eleven lines, between "HR" and "Londini 1545", in Hebrew and Greek, 50mm (MI 47/44; Eim. 26; H & P pl. 28, 1), late 18th century. Nearly extremely fine, deeply toned and rare.

See also G. F. Hill, "The medal of Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church," NC (1916), pp. 194-195.

Provenance: Ex. Dix, Noonan, Webb Auction, 17 December, 2007 (lot 1249).