Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
January 2022 NYINC Auction 14-16 Jan 2022
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GREAT BRITAIN. Groat, ND (1553-54). London Mint; mm: pomegranate. Mary I. PCGS MS-61.
S-2492; N-1960. Obverse: Crowned and robed bust left; Reverse: Coat-of-arms over long cross fourchee. Offering tremendous quality that is seldom, if ever, observed for the type, this stunning Mint State minor presents a deep gray tone and a rather sharp strike. A few inconsequential light marks are noted around the bust, but they in no way detract from the mesmerizing nature yielded here.
The first legitimate child of Henry VIII, Mary was born prior to Henry’s conversion to Anglicanism, and consequently was Catholic. By the time she succeeded to the throne, England had already become a nation Protestant in character under the influence of her father. Mary in her attempts to reverse course became known by the most famous of monikers, Bloody Mary. Mary sought to marry into Catholicism and have a Catholic heir so her sister Elizabeth could not succeed to the throne. Her husband Philip II was incredibly unpopular with the public and Parliament on account of being Spanish in addition to his Catholicism. Their failure to bear a child during Mary’s false pregnancy led to humiliation and the ultimate realization that Mary would be succeeded by Elizabeth. After her death, Philip ceased to have legitimate right to any English Monarchical office, and he later returned to waging war against England during the reign of Elizabeth, after first attempting to marry her. Coinage from this time bears the likeness of both Philip and Mary, and it displays the unique moment in history where it was possible to a future enemy of England being featured as king of England on coinage. To view all items from the Paul C. Runze Collection, click here.
From the Paul C. Runze Collection (purchased from Davisson's).
Estimate: $4000 - $8000
S-2492; N-1960. Obverse: Crowned and robed bust left; Reverse: Coat-of-arms over long cross fourchee. Offering tremendous quality that is seldom, if ever, observed for the type, this stunning Mint State minor presents a deep gray tone and a rather sharp strike. A few inconsequential light marks are noted around the bust, but they in no way detract from the mesmerizing nature yielded here.
The first legitimate child of Henry VIII, Mary was born prior to Henry’s conversion to Anglicanism, and consequently was Catholic. By the time she succeeded to the throne, England had already become a nation Protestant in character under the influence of her father. Mary in her attempts to reverse course became known by the most famous of monikers, Bloody Mary. Mary sought to marry into Catholicism and have a Catholic heir so her sister Elizabeth could not succeed to the throne. Her husband Philip II was incredibly unpopular with the public and Parliament on account of being Spanish in addition to his Catholicism. Their failure to bear a child during Mary’s false pregnancy led to humiliation and the ultimate realization that Mary would be succeeded by Elizabeth. After her death, Philip ceased to have legitimate right to any English Monarchical office, and he later returned to waging war against England during the reign of Elizabeth, after first attempting to marry her. Coinage from this time bears the likeness of both Philip and Mary, and it displays the unique moment in history where it was possible to a future enemy of England being featured as king of England on coinage. To view all items from the Paul C. Runze Collection, click here.
From the Paul C. Runze Collection (purchased from Davisson's).
Estimate: $4000 - $8000