4—5. Portrait with title of "Head of the Church," 1545. Obv. Bust of King r., wearing cap, ermine cloak, and collar. HENRICVS OCTA. &c. FIDEI DEFENSOR ET IN TERR. ECCLE. ANGLI. ET HIBE. SVB CHRIST. CAPVT SVPREMVM. Rev. Two inscriptions of same import as that on the obverse; one in Hebrew, the other in Greek; above H. R.; below, Londini, 1545. Gold and silver. Size 2·05. Cast and chased.
Henry's supremacy over the church was acknowledged by the clergy 1531, and confirmed by Parliament 1534. This medal was not struck till 1545.
6. Badge. Half-length figure of King, full face, wearing hat, robes trimmed with fur, &c. HENRIC. OCT. REX ANGL. Z. FRANC. Laurel-border. Silver. Oval. Size 2·3. Cast and chased.
This may have been worn as a badge of some society.
7. Anne Boleyn, 1534. Obv. Bust of Queen, nearly full face, towards l., wearing coif with veil, &c., in field, A. R. THE MOOST HAPPI. ANNO 1534. Reverse plain. Lead. Size 1·5. Cast.
Anne Boleyn, daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, and second wife of Henry VIII., married 1535, and beheaded 19th May, 1536.
8. Sir Thomas More, 1535. Obv. Bust r., wearing biretta and fur cloak. THOMAS MORVS ANGLIÆ CANCEL. Rev. A cypress felled, the axe in the trunk. SVAVIVS OLET. Copper. Size 2·3. Cast and chased.
Sir Thomas More, born 1480, was appointed Keeper of the Great Seal 1529; beheaded 6 July, 1535. The reverse typifies More under the form of a cypress, which has fallen under the stroke of the axe, but whose odour has thus become more fragrant.
9. Another. Obv. Bust of More, three quarters l., wearing biretta, fur cloak, &c. EFFIGIES THOMÆ MORI MARTIRIS ANGLI. Rev. Bust of St. Thomas à Becket, three quarters r., in archiepiscopal dress, holding cross and book. S. THOMAS ARCHIEP. CANTVAR. MART. AN. 1171. Silver. Size 1·45. All engraved.
This medal draws a parallel between the death of St. Thomas à Becket and Sir Thomas More, both champions of their faith, and both put to death under royal displeasure.