Magnificent Fine Gold Sovereign of Mary Tudor Dated 1553

Mary (1553-54), fine gold Sovereign of Thirty Shillings, 1553, full-length seated figure of Queen facing on throne, holding orb and sceptre, lis headed pillars to throne each sides, portcullis below, surrounded by tressure, beaded circles with legend surrounding, date in Roman numerals at end of legend, annulet stops and mint mark pomegranate after Queen's name, mARIA:p: D': G': ANG'. FRA Z: hIB': REGInA: m:D:LIII:, rev. quartered shield at centre of Tudor rose, linear circles and legend surrounding, A: DnO'. FACTV'. EST: ISTV'. Z: EST: mIRA'. In: OCVL': nRIS'., weight 15.39g (Schneider 704; N.1956; S.2488). A well struck broad flan with good detail apparent, a little weak in parts on some of the high points, good very fine.

The Roman numeral dated fine gold Sovereign of Mary Tudor is the first dated gold Sovereign ever produced. The companion gold 15 Shilling Ryal - the Half-Sovereign is also dated as such but that is not the first of that denomination. The only other dated British gold coin before 1553, is an extremely rare, Durham House Mint gold Half-Sovereign of King Edward VI (Durham House was situated along the Strand in London).

Early accounts of the output of the coinage in the reign of Mary are missing, but based on the contemporary estimate of writers Challis and Harrison (1973) it would seem some £30,000 of face value of fine gold was produced with mint mark pomegranate, which was divided between the fine Sovereign, Angel and extremely rare Half Angel.

Provenance:
Ex U.B.S., Switzerland, Sale 67, 5th September 2006, lot 2957.