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The Largest Gold Denomination of Philip and Mary
Philip and Mary (1554-58), fine gold Angel, of ten shillings. Class 4, St Michael slaying dragon right, Latin
legend and beaded border surrounding on both sides, initial mark lis (August 1557-58) both sides, pellet
stops.PHILIP; Z: MARIA: D; G; REX. Z. REGINA. A’ Rev flat decked ship sailing right, large quartered
shield at center, P and M above with cross, A’ DNO’ FACTVM: EST: ISTVD: Z: EST. MIRABILE,
weight 5.11g (Schneider 727; N 1965; S 2496; Fr 196). Attractively toned, one light crease, in PCGS holder
graded AU 53,
extremely rare this well preserved.
Pop 1; the finest of the only 2 graded examples at PCGS. The
only other slabbed example is an NGC AU 58.
$47,500
Ex H W Taffs, Glendining, 21st November 1956, lot 12.
Ex Spink Coin Auction 90, 16th March 1992, lot 29.
Ex Spink Numismatic Circular, November 1993, item 7752.
PCGS certification 34313455 . The gold Angels carrying Philip’s name were only struck from August 1557 till the end
of the reign, a period of just over a year. Today we are left with a legacy of less than fifty surviving coins both in muse-
um and private collections of all varieties and most are not as fine as the example offered herewith. The flat decked
ship variety accounts for circa 25 examples of the roughly 50 known and at least 11 of the 25 are institutionalized. The
die combination offered on this coin appears to be the earliest so likely struck in the August to September period of 1557.