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The Royal Sceptres

The Sceptres of Æthelred II.-Canute-Edward the Confessor-Harold-Henry III. - Henry IV. - Henry VII.- Charles II.-The Sceptres from James II. to George IV. -Queen Victoria-Edward VII.-George V.-The King's Sceptre with the Dove-The Queen's Sceptre with the Cross-The Queen's Sceptre with the Dove- The Queen's Ivory Rod-St. Edward's Staff.

N coins of earlier date than those of Æthelred II. there are no indications of sceptres carried by the kings; but on some of his coins occurs a rod with three pearls at the top (Fig. 25). On some of the coins of Canute this triple head develops into a clearly marked trefoil (Fig. 26). Although he retains the simpler form of the three pearls generally, Edward the Confessor shows sometimes a sceptre with a cross at the top, the prototype of the present sceptre with the cross (Fig. 27); and, on the reverse of his first Great Seal, he bears in his right hand a sceptre with a dove, the prototype of the present sceptre with the dove (Fig. 28). These two forms have WITH THREE PEARLS AT THE TOP. FROM PENNY OF ATHELRED II.

WITH TREFOIL AND PEARLS AT THE TOP.