Expert: Mark Smith - 5/23/2010

Question
Hello Mark, Is it true Henry VIII was known as 'Old Copper Nose' and why was this?

Answer
Hello Philip.
In the 1540s Henry VIII ran so short of money that one solution he implemented was the debasement of the coinage. Coins were minted with smaller amounts of base metal and greater amounts of alloy. This led to some very inferior quality copper coins which, after much use, began to wear away. The slightly raised parts of the coin, in particular Henry's face became worn first and consequently his nose would become shiny; thus copper nose.
Mark