Sovereign Rarities Ltd
Auction 17 13 Mar 2025
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Elizabeth I (1558-1603), fine gold Sovereign or Double Noble of Thirty Shillings, sixth issue (1583-1600), full facing robed figure of Queen seated on large throne, lis headed pillar either side, throne back of pellets in hatching, three pairs of pellets alternating with large annulet upon each side bar of throne back, portcullis below Queen, tressure and beaded border surrounding, Latin legend and outer beaded border on both sides, initial mark escallop (1584-86) both sides, ELIZABETH. D; G; ANG; FRA; ET. HIB; REGINA., rev. quartered shield at centre of ornate rose, beaded circle surrounding, A. DNO. FACTV; EST. ISTVD. ET. EST. MIRAB; IN. OCVLIS. NRIS;, weight 15.50g (Hill 53 R3; Brown and Comber A12; Holloway 11-13-008 (lot 19); Schneider 781/-; N.2003; S.2529). Toned and well struck on a full flan, just a little unevenness to rim and delightfully free of surface marks, just a little softer at centre of reverse and around face, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS62 with an multi-generational Noble Dutch family provenance.NGC Certification 8221157-001, label highlights the coin's Dutch Family Provenance to 1722.
The abbreviated Latin legend translates as on obverse "Elizabeth by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland," and on the reverse "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes," a Psalm from the Bible.
The fine gold output of mintmark escallop totaled £56,562 worth from 1st February 1585 until 31st January 1587, an output which would have also included the gold Angel and its fractions. The denomination also named officially as a Double Noble passed for Thirty Shillings. Brown and Comber recorded this coin as A18 in their work on the Elizabethan gold coinage in the British Numismatic Journal of 1989.
The fine gold Sovereign of Elizabeth I was a highly respected coin at the time and was famed in the acting world of the time of William Shakespeare, as the coin of choice to be honoured with should the Queen attend a performance personally. Traditionally the Queen would honour the playwright and the star of the show with her favour reflected in the presenting of a fine gold Sovereign. We have such evidence of this in the will of the Gentleman Actor Augustine Phillips of Mortlake Surrey who was one of the first to rise to such a social status in his profession. From his will dated 13th May 1605 we can see fine gold Sovereign presented described thus "I give and bequeath to my fellow William Shakespeare a XXXs piece in gould, To my fellow Henry Condell one other xxxs piece in gould." Such a coin of honour being highly revered and not to be spent in the lifetime of the recipient.
Provenance:
From an old Dutch family with ownership traced back to at least 1722, name to be privately revealed to successful purchaser only.
The abbreviated Latin legend translates as on obverse "Elizabeth by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland," and on the reverse "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvellous in our eyes," a Psalm from the Bible.
The fine gold output of mintmark escallop totaled £56,562 worth from 1st February 1585 until 31st January 1587, an output which would have also included the gold Angel and its fractions. The denomination also named officially as a Double Noble passed for Thirty Shillings. Brown and Comber recorded this coin as A18 in their work on the Elizabethan gold coinage in the British Numismatic Journal of 1989.
The fine gold Sovereign of Elizabeth I was a highly respected coin at the time and was famed in the acting world of the time of William Shakespeare, as the coin of choice to be honoured with should the Queen attend a performance personally. Traditionally the Queen would honour the playwright and the star of the show with her favour reflected in the presenting of a fine gold Sovereign. We have such evidence of this in the will of the Gentleman Actor Augustine Phillips of Mortlake Surrey who was one of the first to rise to such a social status in his profession. From his will dated 13th May 1605 we can see fine gold Sovereign presented described thus "I give and bequeath to my fellow William Shakespeare a XXXs piece in gould, To my fellow Henry Condell one other xxxs piece in gould." Such a coin of honour being highly revered and not to be spent in the lifetime of the recipient.
Provenance:
From an old Dutch family with ownership traced back to at least 1722, name to be privately revealed to successful purchaser only.