Learned some interesting history while searching for a coin (Lady Jane Grey)

I first learned about Lady Jane Grey in my English class at school. I really enjoy history, and she lived during a very interesting time. The time period was the mid 16th century. The Protestant Reformation was full blown, black death was a not so distant memory, and the church of England had broken away from the authority of the Pope of Rome. There was a lot of uncertainty and hostility in the air, and a counter reformation was formed by the Catholic Church. Below is a brief synapses of Lady Jane Grey, her nine day rule as Queen of England, and her untimely death by beheading.





(via: http://www.castles.me.uk/executions-beheading-tower-of-london.htm)
Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England (1537–1554)
Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for just Nine Days from Monday 10th July 1553 to Wednesday 19th July 1553. Edward V a devout Protestant and Henry VIII's only son died of tuberculosis, and he left the throne to 'the Lady Jane and her heirs male.' Lady Jane Grey was the puppet of her ambitious parents the powerful Dudley family. She was proclaimed Queen of England and the Protestant Queen Jane and her husband Guildford Dudley were taken in full state from Syon House to the Royal Apartments in the Tower of London. On 19th July 1553 Queen Jane was deposed as Queen, she raised no objection - the Catholic Princess Mary was the rightful heir. Lady Jane Grey and her husband were imprisoned in the Tower. On 12th February 1554 Lady Jane Grey and her husband Guildford Dudley were executed at the Tower of London. Lady Jane watched her husband go from the Beauchamp Tower to his death on Tower Hill, a few hours before her own execution on the Green. Jane's death warrant was signed by Queen Mary later known as 'Bloody Mary' for her persecution of Protestants.
Lady Jane Grey was just 17 years old.


I did some searching to see if there was ever a coin minted in honor, or to represent Lady Jane Grey. I couldn't find an official coin, but I did come across an interesting counterfeit that was made around 1840. As you can see from the description, the counterfeit shilling was an attempt to imitate the coins around the reign of Henry VIII. Below the Lady Jane counterfeit, are two examples of an authentic Henry VIII Groat, and a Groat with the portrait of (Bloody Mary).




To read more about English Royal Coins visit: http://home.eckerd.edu/~oberhot/etudor.htm


Thanks for reading. Please feel free to expand on and historical knowledge, or make historical corrections. Anymore information about these coins would be greatly appreciated.


~Jason

 

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That was a nice read.

Thanks for your informative post.

 

good informative thread, one day i'll get round to doing a thread about the commonwealth coinage of the english civil war.........

 

NP, I enjoyed it. I was going to go into a lot more detail, but I couldn't find enough information on the history behind the coin, and I did this at work! =()

 

the "coin" was actually pictured in a movie about lady jane, when she was beheaded it fell from her hand.