Coin, English, silver, found at Hursley Road, 146, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, issued by Henry VI, at Calais, France, 1422 to 1471.

Coin, English, silver, found at Hursley Road, 146, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, issued by Henry VI, at Calais, France, 1422 to 1471.

Silver 'gros', or groat, of Henry VI

Lancastrian, issued between 1422-1477

Found at Chandlers Ford, Hampshire

In 1422 Henry VI inherited the English and French thrones; the obverse of this coin bears the legend HENRIC.DI.GRA.REX.ANGL.Z.FRANC - 'Henry, by the Grace of God, King of England and France. The war with France continued, however, until 1453 by which time England had lost all of its French possessions with the exception of Calais. Under Henry VI the Calais mint produced large quantities of silver coins: this groat, an example of one of its products, includes in the reverse legend VILLA CALISIE - 'Calais'. Calais was useful to the English in that it served as a political statement, confirming that England ruled this part of France, and secondly to facilitate trade between England and Europe.

Coin, English, silver, found at Hursley Road, 146, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, issued by Henry VI, at Calais, France, 1422 to 1471.