Elizabeth I (1558-1603) gold "Ship" Ryal of 15 Shillings ND (1584-1586) XF45 NGC, Tower mint, Escallop mm, Sixth issue, S-2530, N-2004. 7.52gm. Potentially the most coveted issue from Elizabeth's reign – the outstanding ‘Ship' Ryal, produced solely for international trade in extremely limited numbers, a type missing from many of the most famous British collections. The Ryal was always a slightly controversial denomination, representing an attempt during Edward IV's first reign to simplify the interlocking gold types by producing a ‘Half Sovereign' equivalent worth 10 Shillings. However, as the Noble of 6 Shillings 8 Pence was the standard by then, the Ryal was found unsuccessful and replaced shortly afterwards by the famous Angel type. Despite its initial unpopularity, the 10 Shilling Ryal reared its head once again in Henry VII's reign, and again in Mary's reign then worth 15 Shillings to match the 30 Shilling Sovereign. By Elizabeth's reign it was not considered to be a necessary denomination, and the present type was only produced for trade in the Netherlands, designed with charming medieval style imagery and Lombardic lettering. Due to the quick abandonment of this denomination, only a handful of examples are known today and they always generate extreme excitement from collectors of British hammered gold when offered. This specimen is exemplary for issue, Elizabeth's portrait razor sharp with only localized areas of weakness to sunken areas of the flan and within the fourth quarter of the reverse. Dulled by tone and time to a pleasant honey-gold with subdued gleam at the highpoints; attractive, extremely rare and perhaps one of the only opportunities collectors will ever have to obtain an XF example of this celebrated denomination.

HID09801242017

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