Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3048 11 August 2016
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Great Britain
Mary (Sole Rule, 1553-1554) gold Ryal 1553 AU55 PCGS, Tower mint, Pomegranate mm, S-2489, North-1957 (ER), Schneider-709 (same dies). Crowned queen standing facing in a ship with "M" banner and a rose on the hull / Rose over radiate sun superimposed on a cross fleurée with crowned leopards in angles. Uniformly struck on an exquisitely-broad planchet, this piece is one of the classic rarities of British numismatics. There is light handling throughout, evidenced by a few ancient scratches and a faint crimp in the flan. Also of note is a tiny striking crack in the center of the coin. The surfaces overall are bright and essentially the entire module is on-flan; the legends clear and intelligible with an upset rim around approximately 80% of the periphery. The date range on the PCGS insert is unnecessary as this specimen is clearly dated MDLIII. With ostensibly fewer than 10 pieces of this type in private hands, this is an uncommon opportunity for an addition to the most advanced of numismatic cabinets.Ex. Spink (Auction 11024, December 2011, Lot 92)Ex. V.J.E. Ryan, Glendining's (June 1950, Lot 260)Ex. B. Roth, Sotheby's (July 1917, Lot 274)Ex. A.W. Hankin, Sotheby's (March 1900, Lot 308)The ship Ryals of Mary and Elizabeth I are rightfully famous, not only for their rarity but for what they represented at the time of their issue. With Mary, attempting to govern after a turbulent accession while trying simultaneously to restore Catholicism, the type exudes serenity and stateliness, hearkening back to the rose Nobles of the previous century. The ship Ryals of Elizabeth I, by contrast, were nearly extravagant in their portrayal of the Queen. They were issued towards the end of her reign at a time when England was politically stable and on the ascent as a European power. As one of the last English gold issues in the Medieval style, they almost symbolically cap the Tudor period as England moved forward into the Early Modern age.
Estimate: 140000-160000 USD
Mary (Sole Rule, 1553-1554) gold Ryal 1553 AU55 PCGS, Tower mint, Pomegranate mm, S-2489, North-1957 (ER), Schneider-709 (same dies). Crowned queen standing facing in a ship with "M" banner and a rose on the hull / Rose over radiate sun superimposed on a cross fleurée with crowned leopards in angles. Uniformly struck on an exquisitely-broad planchet, this piece is one of the classic rarities of British numismatics. There is light handling throughout, evidenced by a few ancient scratches and a faint crimp in the flan. Also of note is a tiny striking crack in the center of the coin. The surfaces overall are bright and essentially the entire module is on-flan; the legends clear and intelligible with an upset rim around approximately 80% of the periphery. The date range on the PCGS insert is unnecessary as this specimen is clearly dated MDLIII. With ostensibly fewer than 10 pieces of this type in private hands, this is an uncommon opportunity for an addition to the most advanced of numismatic cabinets.Ex. Spink (Auction 11024, December 2011, Lot 92)Ex. V.J.E. Ryan, Glendining's (June 1950, Lot 260)Ex. B. Roth, Sotheby's (July 1917, Lot 274)Ex. A.W. Hankin, Sotheby's (March 1900, Lot 308)The ship Ryals of Mary and Elizabeth I are rightfully famous, not only for their rarity but for what they represented at the time of their issue. With Mary, attempting to govern after a turbulent accession while trying simultaneously to restore Catholicism, the type exudes serenity and stateliness, hearkening back to the rose Nobles of the previous century. The ship Ryals of Elizabeth I, by contrast, were nearly extravagant in their portrayal of the Queen. They were issued towards the end of her reign at a time when England was politically stable and on the ascent as a European power. As one of the last English gold issues in the Medieval style, they almost symbolically cap the Tudor period as England moved forward into the Early Modern age.
Estimate: 140000-160000 USD