St. James's Auctions
Auction 48 23 Sep 2021
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Elizabeth I, sixth issue, 'crown gold' coinage, pound, mm. key over raised woolpack (1596-99), bust 8A left, ELIZABETH D G ANG FRA ET HIB REGINA, no stop after BETH, rev. crowned shield of arms, ER at sides, SCVTVM FIDEI PROTEGET EAM, pellet stops, wt. 11.20gms. (S.2534; N.2008; cf. Schneider 800-03; Brown & Comber F11), a desirable example, good very fine/extremely fine
Purchased Knightsbridge Coins, 2001.
The decade of the 1570s had been one of constant plundering of treasure-laden Spanish ships, the captured gold often being melted for new English coinage, in fact enabling ample mintages of gold coins known to collectors as the Second and Third issues-angels, sovereigns and pounds aplenty. Spain became increasingly vigilant, however, leading up to the invasion by the Armada and its defeat during the summer of 1588. The 'last dash' of English gold in quantity was just then being minted, most visibly in the beautifully warlike ryals of 1583-1592. Elizabeth's early glory then began to wane. In the later 1590s, Spain's King Philip II sent two more armadas to invade English shores, the attempts halted more by the weather than by our navy. Internal harmony was fragile and disrupted by Tyrone's Rising (financed and armed by Spain) in 1595 and by Essex's Revolt in early 1601. Although still at war with Spain, Queen Elizabeth's forces put down the two internal revolts and she ended the year 1601 with a famous 'golden speech' before Parliament in November that proved that her sovereignty was intact. Though weakened by age, she nonetheless glowed at Court almost to her final days. Her kingdom, however, was facing peril and uncertainty as the Tudor Age ended and a new royal house came to power just a few years after this impressive gold coin was minted. New denominations would soon appear, some truly glorious and owing their inspiration to the best of Elizabeth's coinage, but some pedestrian-an observation that none of the last Tudor's money could ever be accused of.
(15000-20000 GBP)
Purchased Knightsbridge Coins, 2001.
The decade of the 1570s had been one of constant plundering of treasure-laden Spanish ships, the captured gold often being melted for new English coinage, in fact enabling ample mintages of gold coins known to collectors as the Second and Third issues-angels, sovereigns and pounds aplenty. Spain became increasingly vigilant, however, leading up to the invasion by the Armada and its defeat during the summer of 1588. The 'last dash' of English gold in quantity was just then being minted, most visibly in the beautifully warlike ryals of 1583-1592. Elizabeth's early glory then began to wane. In the later 1590s, Spain's King Philip II sent two more armadas to invade English shores, the attempts halted more by the weather than by our navy. Internal harmony was fragile and disrupted by Tyrone's Rising (financed and armed by Spain) in 1595 and by Essex's Revolt in early 1601. Although still at war with Spain, Queen Elizabeth's forces put down the two internal revolts and she ended the year 1601 with a famous 'golden speech' before Parliament in November that proved that her sovereignty was intact. Though weakened by age, she nonetheless glowed at Court almost to her final days. Her kingdom, however, was facing peril and uncertainty as the Tudor Age ended and a new royal house came to power just a few years after this impressive gold coin was minted. New denominations would soon appear, some truly glorious and owing their inspiration to the best of Elizabeth's coinage, but some pedestrian-an observation that none of the last Tudor's money could ever be accused of.
(15000-20000 GBP)