A Superb Example of the Silver Crown of Queen Elizabeth I

Elizabeth I (1558-1603), silver Crown of Five Shillings, ornate crowned bust left, holding orb and sceptre, crown breaks inner beaded circle, initial mark 1 (1601), legend and beaded border surrounding, ELIZABETH: D: G: ANG: FRA: ET: HIBER: REGINA:1:, rev. long cross fourchée under quartered shield of arms, legend and beaded borders surrounding, :1: POSVI: DEVM: AD IVTORE M: MEVM:, weight 29.87g (Cooper dies C/4; N.2012; S.2582). Struck on a full flan, well centred, with tiny surface marks both sides, evenly toned with good detail in striking, good very fine to almost extremely fine.

The silver Crowns were struck right near the end of the reign of Elizabeth I in the last issue of her coinage. They are dated by the mint marks which are 1 for 1601, or 2 for 1602 in the Julian calendar in use at that time. F. R. Cooper studied the coinage in depth throughout the 1960s and produced his synopsis of the coinage, published through the Spink Numismatic Circular in June 1971.

Provenance:

Ex Baldwin Auction 77, 27th September 2012, lot 2701.

Ex A. H. Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Winter 2012, item BH063.