Philip & Mary (1554-58), silver Shilling of Twelve Pence, 1554, issue with full titles, profile busts facing each other, crown above, date either side, legend and beaded border surrounding, PHILIP. ET. MARIA. D. G. R. ANG. FR. NEAP. PR. HISP., rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, value either side of crown, legend and beaded border surrounding, .POSVIMVS. DEVM. ADIVTOREM. NOSTRVM., weight 6.41g (N.1967; S.2500). Hairline short scratch between portraits, toned, almost very fine, reverse better.

The Philip and Mary Shilling represents the largest English coin on which the King and Queen have portraits that face each other. The first coin to ever depict a King and Queen together is the extremely rare King Stephen and Queen Matilda Penny (S.1315) dating from the mid-12th Century. Philip of Spain and Mary Tudor are not depicted together in the gold coinage and it is only the silver Shilling and smaller Sixpence where their facing busts can be found depicted.

There is an exceedingly rare larger pattern silver Halfcrown of Philip and Mary but this depicts one monarch each side, so the Shilling is the largest denomination with the King and Queen facing.

The only other occasions on which joint rulers have appeared on the English coinage is in the reign of William and Mary where their conjoined busts face the same direction. Additionally the current Queen has appeared with Prince Philip conjoined on commemorative Five Pound coins dated 1997, 2007 and 2017 for their wedding anniversaries.

Provenance:
Ex Spink Coin Auction, 28th September 2005, lot 1400 part.