The 1986 film "Lady Jane" is a historical film about the nine-day reign of England's Queen Jane which followed the death of King Edward VI in 1553. Conspirators place 15-year old Lady Jane Grey on the English throne as a Protestant to block the ascension of Edward VI's sister, Mary Tudor, a Catholic. Mary Tudor raised an army and, after becoming Queen Mary, had Lady Jane and her husband executed. The real Queen Jane did not mint any coins. In the film, Jane becomes obsessed with reforming the debased coinage of Edward VI and producing her own shillings. The coins are shown several times in the film. The prop shillings were manufactured for the film with the portrait of Helena Bonham Carter, the actress who portrays Jane.

The film is set in Tudor England in 1553 during and after the last year of the reign of Edward VI who was 15 years old. England is racked by conflicts between Catholics and Protestants over religion. Henry Gray and his wife Frances have a daughter Jane who is also 15 years old. (Lady Jane Grey's actual birthdate is unknown but was sometime in 1536 or 1537). Jane's mother's uncle is Henry VIII and that puts Jane in line for the throne. John Feckenham, a Catholic official, tries to convert the Protestant Jane but she not only refuses but impresses him with her arguments and piety. Jane's parents want their daughter to "marry well." They first introduce her to Edward VI.

Edward becomes very ill and is actually dying which eliminates him as a husband. Jane's parents then arrange with John Dudley, a duke, for Jane to marry his son Guildford.

Guildford is a wastrel who enjoys gambling, drinking, and brothels.

Jane and her husband tolerate each other but she refuses to have relations with him. With King Edward seriously ill, a group of Protestants worry that he will be succeeded by Mary Tudor, Edward's sister and a Catholic. Besides the religious issue, the men are worried that Queen Mary would order them to return goods looted from monastaries. The men form a conspiracy to put Jane, a Protestant, on the throne.

The young couple are sent to the country where they encounter some landless peasants. Guildford tries to give them some coin money but they refuse it. Later, in a coach, he looks at a coin.

Jane asks Guildford what happened with the peasants and he tells her that the money is so debased that it is near worthless. He shows her a current coin which she identifies as a copper penny.

The prop coin appears to be a copy of an Edward VI coin. Guildford tells Jane it's a shilling which she does not believe as shillings are made of silver. He replies that they should be but not now and a shilling isn't worth a shilling. The couple are now warming up to each other and enjoying each other. Back in London, a doctor persuades Edward VI to sign a will.

The will makes Jane his heir. With the will the conspiracy can be put into effect.

Part of the plot involves arresting princesses Mary and Elizabeth but they have left London. The men argue over whether to continue the plot and the two head men Dudley and Grey remind the others about the monastery loot. Jane and Guildford are brought to the palace and she is shocked at the reason.

She and Guildford soon realize her power and she becomes more assertive.

Queen Jane begins issuing orders to free prisoners, give land to landless farmers, and start an education program. She remembers the problems with the money and orders good shillings. The next scenes are of the Mint which was located then in the Tower of London.

The men work with hot metal in smoky conditions.

The coins are hammered, that is, the blank planchette is placed between two dies and a man uses a hammer to strike the coin. This is a slow process. One of the new coins is shown.

Soon there are more coins and a bowl of them is shown.

The coin props were manufactured for the film and the design is copied from an actual coin of Queen Elizabeth.

Silver, 27 mm, 2.75 gm
Obverse:
Crowned head facing left with a rose behind the head
ELIZABETH D G ANG FR ET HI REGINA followed by a downward arrow mintmark
(Elizabeth by the Grace of God, England, France and Ireland, Queen)
Reverse:
Shield with arms (lions and fleurs-de-lis) and long cross behind
POSVI DEV ADIVTOREM MEV (I have made God my Helper)
Struck: London Tower Mint, mintmark ownward arrow ("pheon") above the Queen's head

Later Queen Jane is back at work and the mint-master visits her.

The official gives Jane a box which she opens.

The obverse of the coin is then shown:

The inscription reads: "JANEI DG AGL FRA Z HIB REGINA" (it could be "JANE I") or "Jane, by the Grace of God, England France and Ireland, Queen"

Unfortunately, Queen Mary has raised an army and has the support of many people. Her army defeats the Queen Jane forces and Jane and Guildford are sent to the Tower of London.

Jane is separated from Guildford and is locked in with a servant.

She is happy that she was able to keep her shilling. Queen Mary enters London with her supporters.

Queen Mary plans to marry King Philip II of Spain.

The Spanish ambassador tells Queen Mary that King Philip will only marry her if she has Jane and Guildford executed. The order for execution (by beheading with an axe) is sent to the Tower prison.

Jane goes to the scaffold and meets with John Feckenham to whom she gives the shilling.

Jane is blindfolded and taken to the chopping block.

Jane forgives the executioner and he then does his job.

Silver, 25 mm, 2.02 gm
Obverse: Crowned head facing left
MARIA (pomegranate) D G ANG FRA Z HIB REGI
(Mary by the Grace of God, England, France and Ireland, Queen)
Reverse: Shield with arms (lions and fleurs-de-lis) and long cross
VERITAS (pomegranate) TEMPORIS FILIA (Truth, the Daughter of Time)
Struck: London Tower Mint, mintmark pomegranate on both sides

At the palace the Queen Jane coin appears again.

Queen Mary is holding the coin and gives the audience a better look at it.

She hands it to John Feckenham who leaves the room.

Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Jane Grey
Cary Elwes as Lord Guildford Dudley, Jane's husband
Patrick Stewart as Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, Jane's father
Sara Kestelman as Lady Frances Brandon, Jane's mother
John Wood as John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland
Michael Hordern as John Feckenham
Jane Lapotaire as Queen Mary I of England
Warren Saire as King Edward VI of England
Director: Trevor Nunn
Writers: David Edgar, Chris Bryant