Watch List notes:

Edward VI (1547-53), gold Sovereign of Twenty Shillings, struck in 22 carat gold, third period (1550-53), Tower I Mint, half-length, crowned armoured figure of king right, holding orb and sword, legend and beaded borders surrounding both sides, initial mark y both sides, :EDWARD; VI: D; G; AGL': FRAn Z: hIB; REX., rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, with crowned lion and dragon supporters, ER on banner below, y. IhS'. AVTEm: TRAnCI; PER mEDI; ILLOR'; IBAT, weight 11.17g (Schneider 690; N.1928; S.2451). Lightly toned, raised die flaw by orb, weak strike on elbow and lion supporter, otherwise well-centred, a bold very fine.

The third period of coinage under King Edward VI struck in "crown gold" in the name of the boy King showing a crowned and armoured half-length figure of King facing right holding an orb and sword. The mint mark of y is representative of the activity at the Tower I Mint after Southwark had closed and Sir John York had transferred there the Under-Treasurer hence mint mark Y. Along with the mintmark of tun, the Y mark relates to the accounting time period 18th December 1550- 6th July 1553, of which not all the original records survive, though it is estimated some £24,000 worth of gold coinage was produced across all the denominations.

Provenance:
Ex Spink Coin Auction, 26th September 2006, lot 25.