47 / 128
Elizabeth I (1558-1603), fine gold Sovereign 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 annulets
within hatching, six pellets up each side 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),
+ELIZABETH D; G; ANG; FRA; ET HIB; REGINA: : Rev. quartered shield at center of ornate rose,
beaded circle surrounding, A. DNO; FACTV; EST. ISTVD. ET. EST. MIRAB; OCVLIS. NRS, weight
15.30g (Schneider -/781; N 2003; S 2529; Fr 209). Attractively toned, just a touch weak on the face, oth-
erwise a full round pleasing coin, in PCGS holder graded AU 55,
extremely rare die variety
with the unusual
throne back and the Queen leaning a little to the right, less than ten known.
$40,000
Ex: Spink Coin Auction, 26th March 2014, lot 1451.
Ex. A H Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Summer 2014, BH053.
PCGS certification 34313451. 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 honored with should the Queen attend a
performance personally. Traditionally the Queen would honor the playwright and the star of the show with her favor reflect-
ed 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 re-
vered and not to be spent in the lifetime of the recipient. The mint mark escallop was used from 1st February 1584/5 till
31st January 1586/7, and represents the largest issue of fine gold in this reign which would have included Angels and their
fractions. A total of £56,562 worth of fine gold was produced over the two years, year one with £33,481 worth and the fol-
lowing year with the balance of £20,451. The Escallop mint mark Sovereign has understandably the largest surviving popu-
lation of examples extant today but the survival is still a fractional percentage of what would have been originally produced.