Collection record · Small worlds
Half Angel: Angel Slaying a Dragon (obverse); Ship with Shield of Arms (reverse)
The collection record classifies this work as coins. It is dated 1526–44. Recorded culture or place: England, Henry VIII, 1509-1547.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Half Angel: Angel Slaying a Dragon (obverse); Ship with Shield of Arms (reverse)
- Date
- 1526–44
- Culture / origin
- England, Henry VIII, 1509-1547
- Materials and technique
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 2.2 cm (7/8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 1969.171
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
During his life Henry VII had accumulated enormous wealth, and it took his son, Henry VIII, until 1542 to squander it. Henry knew the English coinage had been debased in the past and did not see why it should not be debased again, this time for his personal benefit. Full debasement began officially in 1544. The angel varied in value from 6 shillings 8 pence to 11 shillings between Edward's reign and the time of James I. During the reign of Henry VIII, it was valued at seven shillings and six pence (7/6) or 90 pence, the half angel being half that value. The angel was last produced under Charles I in 1642.
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Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · The Norweb Collection · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
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