Henry VI second reign gold Angel Bristol

Henry VI restored, second reign (Oct. 1470-Apr. 1471), gold Angel of six shillings and eight pence, Bristol Mint, St Michael slaying dragon right, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding on both sides, no initial mark, trefoil stops,

 hEnRICV. DI GRA. REX. AnGL'. FRAnC'. DnS ., Rev.

 ship sailing right, quartered shield at centre, h and fleur de lis above with cross, B in waves for Bristol, PER CR VCE'. TVA. SALVA' nOS. XPC' REDE'.TOR, weight 4.98g (Schneider 446; N.1614; S.2079).

Toned, small dig by dragon tail, another dig on reverse above right rope, otherwise a little ragged on rim, with an excellent depiction of St Michael, good very fine, a little weaker on reverse, of the highest rarity as a Bristol Mint piece of this period, thought to be one of only five known.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Henry by the Grace of God, King of England and France and Lord"; and on the reverse "By Thy cross, save us, O Christ, our Redeemer".

The Bristol and York Mints continued limited activity into the Restoration of Henry VI with the Bristol Mint carrying the more obvious mint mark of B in the waves which is understandable for a port, though no contemporary accounts of activity survive, even for London; miniscule numbers of Bristol coins survive with only five thought to be extant today.