Mary (1553-1554) gold "Fine" Sovereign of 30 Shillings 1553 UNC Details (Obverse Scratched, Rim Damage) NGC, Tower mint, Pomegranate mm, S-2488, N-1956 (VR), Schneider-704. 15.08gm. :mΛRIΛ: (pomegranate): D': G': ΛnG': FRΛ | Z: hIB': RЄGInΛ : M: D: LIII (double annulet stops), Mary enthroned facing within tressure, scepter in right hand, globus in left, portcullis at feet / Λ: DnO' (pomegranate) FACTV' • ЄST: ISTV' • Z: ЄST: mIRA' • In: OCVL': nRIS': (annulet and double annulet stops), royal shield over Tudor rose. A significant English hammered gold rarity by all metrics, frequently found missing from even some of the best collections of Tudor coinage, such as Norweb. First introduced under Henry VII, the Sovereign represented a huge purchasing power in its day, and was certainly the largest coin produced in contemporary England in size as well, both facts that undoubtedly account for the poor condition of modern-day survivors of the issue across all Tudor monarchs. Much like the Sovereigns of her sister, those of Mary rarely come in good condition, with those suffering from punctures, cleaning, and post-mint damage being commonplace--indeed, NGC has certified only one straight-graded Mint State piece to date. Though the denomination was introduced during a period of economic vitality in England, by the beginning of Mary's reign the coinage--together with the state of the English economy--was in a state of disarray, owing to Henry VIII's notorious excesses. Though England would have to await the subsequent reign of Elizabeth I before the country would experience a serious financial renaissance, the constellation of historical and economic events embodied by coins such as this provide for a truly rare window into contemporary events. Dated to the first year of Mary's reign, this offering was produced at a time before the Queen acquired the epithet "the Bloody," when she was still considered a benevolent monarch who had the faith of her people. While her later marriage to Philip II of Spain and his introduction of Inquisition ideology would severely alter Mary's attitudes and policies, the ruler captured here appears calm, regal, and reassuring. Mary's short reign has meant that--now as in the 1550s--all of her gold coinage is very rare. This is, in fact, only the seventh Mary Sovereign we have offered, and the first in recognized Uncirculated condition. Though admittedly scratched along the beginning of the legend, the offering contains a firm and clear strike that is so often lacking, producing a slightly more affordable type coin that is by no means lacking in eye appeal.

HID09801242017

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