Edward VI (1547-1553) gold 1/2 Sovereign ND (1549) AU53 NGC, Tower mint, Arrow mm, Second Period, S-2438, N-1865 (R), Schneider-672 var. (no stop after EVM). 5.49gm. (arrow) • EDWARD' • VI: D' • G' • AGL' • FRA' • Z: HIB' • REX •, crowned, armored bust of Edward right / (arrow) SCVTVM • FIDEI • PROTEGET • EVM, crowned Tudor shield, E-R to either side. Perhaps one of the most quaint portraits on all of English coinage, the brief second-period coinage issued from 12 April 1549 to April 1550 certainly represents a high-point in Tudor engraving prior to the more prolific emissions of Edward's sister, Elizabeth. Portrayed as a young "boy king" of only 11 years of age, Edward carries a certain resoluteness, if fragility, that is certainly emblematic of his reign, plagued by economic and social unrest precipitated by war with Scotland and the transformation of the Church of England following the death of his father. Although few of Edward's coins have survived down to the present day in very appreciable condition--almost all of his gold is to be found bent--the present coin captures a quality that can truly invite the viewer into this historic period. Just weakly struck towards the rims and at the base of the central motifs, every detail of Edward's expression from his locks of hair to the jewels of his crown are carefully picked out. Likely of even greater note to the connoisseur of the series, no example of an Edward 1/2 Sovereign was present in the Norweb sales, while the Samuel King Collection did not contain an example of this mintmark.

HID09801242017

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