Casgliadau Arlein

Obverse. The king wearing a five-point crown and (on fine impressions) a tight-fitting armorial jupon, sitting between two lions sejant guardant (their long tails recurving into base of field) on an elaborate gothic-type throne; in the king’s left hand an orb, in his right hand a short sceptre; to either side of the throne a bracket suspends a shield of arms: quarterly, FRANCE (Ancient) and ENGLAND. These, and the wording of the legend, reflect the king’s proclamation of himself in England (at Harwich on 21 February 1340) as King of France, the king noting that he had caused a new great seal and privy seal to be engraved. This is the first great seal upon which an English monarch lays such claim to France