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Very Rare “Portcullis” Four Testerns Far East Trade Coin
Elizabeth I (1558-1603), silver Four Testerns. Trade coinage “Portcullis Money”, crowned quartered shield
of arms, crowned E to left, crowned R to right, beaded circles and Latin legend surrounding, initial
mark O, O: ELIZABETH. D:G: ANG: FRA: ET. HIB; REGINA. Rev. struck en medaille, crowned
portcullis with chains, beaded circles and Latin legend surrounding, initial mark O, O:POSVI. DEVM.
ADIVTOREM. MEVM. 13.60g (Pridmore 2; S 2607B). With striking weakness on two parts of legend
both sides, two flan flaws intruding edge, some light striations in portcullis and chain area, a result of the
annealing of the metal and striking, otherwise evenly toned, in PCGS holder graded EF 45, Pop 1; the only
example of this type graded at both services
rare
.
$15,000
PCGS certification 34312653. The four denominations of Eight, Four, Two and One silver Testern were an attempt at pro-
ducing a trade coinage sponsored by the newly formed East India Company to be used in overseas trade principally in the Far
East. However the competition against the Spanish Eight Reales and its fractions was too much at this time and ultimately the
coinage did not succeed rendering the surviving coins a rarity. The surviving coins probably all being coins retained in London
as souvenirs at the time.