Great Britain. Sixpence, 1561. S.2561. Elizabeth I, 1558-1601. Mint mark pheon. Obverse; Crowned portrait of queen left, rose behind. Reverse; Quartered shield of arms, date above. Practically as struck, and with a superb sharply detailed portrait, this is handsome example of a (normally) crudely made Tudor coin. NGC graded AU-55. Estimate Value $800 - 1,000
*Elizabeth I was the only surviving child of King Henry VII and Anne Boleyn. She was a disappointment to her father, who had wanted a son, and she scarcely knew her mother who was executed when Elizabeth was 32 months old. Mary, her sister, was her bitter rival, and nearly cost Elizabeth her life. Despite all this, Elizabeth went on to become one of England's greatest monarchs, providing peace and a relatively stable religious background for a weary nation. The beautiful portrait on this small coin is a reminder of the first great Elizabethan age.