How to Identify the Crown of the Double Rose
A guide to identifying Henry VIII's gold Crown of the Double Rose by its crowned Tudor rose obverse, royal shield reverse, and changing queen's initials.
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What It Is
The Crown of the Double Rose was a gold coin introduced by King Henry VIII of England in 1526 as part of a broader recoinage that also produced the sovereign, angel, and George noble. It was struck in "crown gold" (22-carat) and originally valued at 4 shillings 6 pence, later raised to 5 shillings. Its name comes from the large crowned Tudor rose on the obverse, which united the red rose of Lancaster and white rose of York.
Obverse Design & Inscriptions
The obverse centers on a crowned double rose flanked by royal initials: "hR" (Henricus Rex) on one side and the initial of Henry's current queen on the other, such as "K" for Katherine of Aragon or "A" for Anne Boleyn. Because the queen's initial changed with each marriage, it can help narrow down when a particular coin was struck. The legend around the rim reads a version of HENRIC 8 DI GRA ROSA SINE SPINA — "Henry VIII, by the grace of God, the rose without a thorn."
Reverse Design & Inscriptions
The reverse bears a crowned shield of the royal arms, quartering lions and fleurs-de-lis, with a legend such as DEI GRA ANGLIE FRANCIE Z HIBERNIE REX — "By the grace of God, King of England, France, and Ireland."
Size, Weight, Metal, and Edge
This is a small hammered gold coin, roughly 22-23mm across. Weight started near 3.82 grams and drifted down slightly over Henry's reign as the coinage standard shifted. Being hand-struck, the edge is plain and the strike is often a little off-center.
Mint Marks & Where to Find Them
Coins were produced mainly at the Tower mint in London. A small privy mark (a symbol like a rose, lis, or arrow) appears at the start of the obverse and reverse legends and was changed periodically to track production periods rather than a specific branch mint.
Telling It Apart From Similar Coins
Do not confuse this with the larger ryal (which shows the king standing in a ship) or the angel (which depicts the Archangel Michael slaying a dragon). Only the Crown of the Double Rose uses the plain crowned-rose obverse motif paired with initials, which is its most distinctive visual signature.
Judging Condition & Grade
Because it was hand-hammered, look at how complete and centered the rose, initials, and legend are rather than expecting the sharp uniform strikes of later machine-made coin. Wear first appears on the crown arches and the highest points of the shield.
Authenticity Red Flags
Genuine surviving examples are scarce and often reside in institutional or advanced collections. Be wary of cast copies, which typically show a seam line around the edge, a grainy surface, or a weight and gold color that does not match the 22-carat standard.
Frequently asked questions
What makes the Crown of the Double Rose different from a gold sovereign of the same era?
The sovereign is a larger coin showing the king enthroned; the Crown of the Double Rose is smaller and centers on a crowned rose flanked by royal initials rather than a full royal portrait.
Why do the initials next to the rose change on different coins?
The initial beside Henry VIII's own initial represents his current queen, so it changed as he remarried, giving a rough way to date a coin to a period of his reign.
Is the edge of this coin milled or plain?
Plain. It was hand-hammered, so there is no reeding or lettering like later machine-struck coins.
How can I tell a cast fake from a genuine hammered example?
Look for a seam line running around the edge, a slightly grainy or pitted surface, and any deviation from the correct weight and 22-carat gold color, all of which suggest casting rather than striking.