I purchased this Henry VI coin recently, but I am having difficulty assessing it as his first or his second reign. Can someone please help me out with this?
I am no expert and with so much damage it is going to be difficult to be sure but I would go with First reign - the mint mark above the crown appears to be the "Cross Fleury" which only occurs in the first reign, as far as I know. Beyond that it is pure guess work as I cannot make out what, if anything, is on his breast - could be a leaf, in which case S1893 or S1903 or S1922 are possible.
@PaddyB Thank-you. You have put me on (what I believe to be) the right track. I believe it to be S1921 (that would be S1922, as you suggested, but with the pellets either side of the crown).
