Henry IV coin value guide
Henry IV · 1399–1413 · Noble, Groat & Half-Groat, Penny & smaller
Denominations
Noble, Groat & Half-Groat, Penny & smaller
Reign
1399–1413
What a coin is worth depends on its exact type, mint, grade and provenance — the type tables and value factors below explain what drives each one.
About these coins
Henry IV, first of the Lancastrian kings, struck a heavy coinage early in the reign and, from 1412, a reduced 'light' coinage after the weights of the gold noble and silver penny were cut to ease a shortage of bullion. His coins — gold noble, half-noble and quarter-noble, and silver groat down to halfpenny — are among the scarcest of the late medieval English kings.
Heavy-coinage pieces in particular are rare and keenly contested; the light coinage is a little more available but still scarce overall. Good portraits and clear striking command strong premiums. Coinage (heavy or light), denomination, mint, grade and provenance set the value.
Noble — value by type
The gold noble (6s 8d), struck in heavy and, from 1412, lighter form. Scarce throughout.
| Type | Rarity |
|---|---|
Heavy & Light coinage noble 1399–1413 King in a ship; the heavy coinage is especially rare. | Rare (heavy) to scarce (light) |
Groat & Half-Groat — value by type
The silver groat (4d) and half-groat (2d), in heavy and light coinages.
| Type | Rarity |
|---|---|
Groat / Half-Groat 1399–1413 Facing crowned bust; the heavy-coinage groats are among the great rarities of the series. | Scarce — heavy coinage rare |
Penny & smaller — value by type
The silver penny, halfpenny and farthing, including ecclesiastical mints.
| Type | Rarity |
|---|---|
Penny / Halfpenny / Farthing 1399–1413 Smaller silver coins, harder to find in good grade. | Scarce |
What drives the value
Type & rarity
Within a single reign, common types in collectable grade sit far below the scarce and rare types. Identifying the exact type is the first step in any valuation.
Mint & moneyer
Coins of rare mints, or with sought-after moneyer or privy-mark signatures, carry a clear premium over the common major-mint issues.
Grade & surfaces
A full, sharp strike with a clear portrait or design and legible legends commands the most. Weak striking, chips, cracks and corrosion all reduce value.
Provenance
A pedigree to a named cabinet or a recorded hoard adds both value and confidence in authenticity, especially for scarcer and higher-grade pieces.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Henry IV coin worth?
His coins are among the scarcest of the late medieval kings, with the heavy coinage especially rare and the light coinage a little more available. Coinage, denomination, mint and grade set the level — use the valuation tool for a figure based on realised prices for comparable coins.
Why are there heavy and light coinages?
In 1412 the weights of the gold noble and silver coins were reduced to cope with a shortage of bullion, dividing the reign's coinage into the earlier 'heavy' and later 'light' issues.
Why are Henry IV coins so rare?
Relatively little was struck, particularly in the heavy coinage, so surviving examples — especially gold and the heavy groats — are genuinely scarce and keenly sought.