ISLE OF MAN - SELF GOVERNING BRITISH CROWN DEPENDENCY
REIGN OF ELIZABETH II (1952-PRESENT) - HOUSE OF WINDSOR
BI-METALLIC ONE-OUNCE GOLD CROWN WITH 1/20 OZ PLATINUM ANGEL INSERT CELEBRATING THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACCESSION OF KING HENRY VIII AND THE 25TH ANIVERSARY OF THE ISLE OF MAN ANGEL COIN
CERTIFIED BY NGC PROOF 69 ULTRA CAMEO
OBV: PORTRAIT BUST OF ELIZABETH II WEARING TIARA RIGHT; TRISKELS SEPARATE LEGEND.
REV: TRADITIONAL PORTRAIT OF HENRY VIII WITH A PLATINUM ANGEL COIN SET TO THE RIGHT (ARCHANGEL MICHAEL SLAYING THE DEVIL IN THE ASPECT OF A DRAGON SURROUNDED BY CELTIC BORDER DESIGN; DENOMINATION/FINENESS BELOW); LATIN LEGEND SURROUNDING "HENRY VIII, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, KING OF ENGLAND FRANCE LORD OF IRELAND"; DENOMINATION BELOW.
HENRY VIII TUDOR (1491-1547), BECAME KING OF ENGLAND IN 1509.
HE IS KNOWN AS THE KING THAT MARRIED SIX TIMES AND AS A MONARCH THAT ENJOYED AN OPULENT COURT. HIS DIVORCE FROM HIS FIRST WIFE, CATHERINE OF ARAGON, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT MARRIAGE TO HIS MISTRESS ANNE BOLEYN (WHOM HE LATER HAD BEHEADED) CAUSED THE SEPARATION OF ENGLAND FROM THE CHURCH OF ROME AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BRITISH SOVEREIGN AS SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
FROM 1526, HENRY ALSO MADE THE ANGEL COIN FAVORED AND FAMOUS. THE ANGEL OR ANGELOT, FIRST STRUCK IN FRANCE IN 1340, HAD BEEN STRUCK IN ENGLAND (AS AN ANGEL-NOBLE) SINCE 1465 DURING THE REIGN OF EDWARD IV. AT OCCASSIONS OF STATE, HENRY GRANTED THE GIFT OF AN ANGEL TO HIS FAVORED COURTIERS.
SAINT MICHAEL, PATRON SAINT OF CHIVALRY, SHOWN IN VICTORIOUS MEDIEVAL COMBAT OVER THE FORCES OF EVIL REPRESENTED BY A DRAGON, HELPED CONVEY A REPUTATION FOR THE ANGEL FOR BESTOWING GOOD FORTUNE.
IT WAS ALSO GIVEN AS A CURE TO THOSE TOUCHED WITH SCROFULA OR THE "KING'S EVIL", A FORM OF TUBERCULOSIS.
CELEBRATING THE 500TH ANNIVERSARY OF KING HENRY'S ACCESSION TO THE THRONE AND THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ISLE OF MAN ANGEL TOGETHER IS A FITTING TRIBUTE TO THEM BOTH.
CROWN CONTAINS 1 OUNCE OF .9999 PURE GOLD
ANGEL INSERT CONTAINS 1/20 OUNCE .999 PURE PLATINUM
39 MM IN DIAMETER
POBJOY MINT FOR THE ISLE OF MAN TREASURY
ONLY 500 MINTED
