Baldwin & Sons
Auction 88 8 May 2014
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BRITISH COINS, HAMMERED GOLD SOVEREIGNS, Edward VI, Gold Sovereign of Twenty Shillings, Third Period (15 December 1550 to 6 July 1553), Southwark mint, crowned half-length armoured figure of King right, holding orb with sword on shoulder, linear and beaded circles surrounding, initial mark y at start of legend both sides, legend reads y :EDVVARD'. VI: D': G'. AGL': FRA'. Z: hIB': REX., outer beaded circle both sides, rev crown over quartered shield of arms supported by crowned lion to left, griffin to right, ER on large banner below, linear and beaded circles surrounding, legend reads y.IhS'. AVTE'. TRAnCI'. PER: MEDIV'. ILLORV'. IBAT., 11.16g (Schneider 690; North 1927; S 2450). Struck with a pleasing portrait, small short scratch over the orb cross and once cleaned, otherwise very fine. ex Property of a Lady, Spink Auction 168, 15 April 2004, lot 150
It is interesting to read the footnote from this provenance, where it is speculated that mintmark Y for the third period Sovereign is five times rarer than mintmark tun which is more usually seen for this issue. According to Schneider the contemporary accounts of gold output for the end of this period are missing relating to the initial mark tun, so factual corroboration of this ratio cannot be gleaned for sure.
This was the last gold Sovereign issued in the reign of King Edward dating to 1551. This Sovereign was issued in "crown gold" at a 20-Shilling face value and 22 carat fineness (0.917 fine gold), which we still use for British gold coinage today. Weighing 174.6 grains (11.314g), this issue represented an improvement on the second period Sovereign and a further sign of the economic recovery of the coinage after the debasement in his father's reign. The Hemisphere Collection example emanates from the Southwark mint, again with the initial Y as its mintmark for Under-Treasurer, Sir John Yorke.
Estimate: £15,000-18,000
It is interesting to read the footnote from this provenance, where it is speculated that mintmark Y for the third period Sovereign is five times rarer than mintmark tun which is more usually seen for this issue. According to Schneider the contemporary accounts of gold output for the end of this period are missing relating to the initial mark tun, so factual corroboration of this ratio cannot be gleaned for sure.
This was the last gold Sovereign issued in the reign of King Edward dating to 1551. This Sovereign was issued in "crown gold" at a 20-Shilling face value and 22 carat fineness (0.917 fine gold), which we still use for British gold coinage today. Weighing 174.6 grains (11.314g), this issue represented an improvement on the second period Sovereign and a further sign of the economic recovery of the coinage after the debasement in his father's reign. The Hemisphere Collection example emanates from the Southwark mint, again with the initial Y as its mintmark for Under-Treasurer, Sir John Yorke.
Estimate: £15,000-18,000