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World Gold Coins ICONIC ELIZABETH I FINE GOLD RYAL. THE C LARKSON/REVEREND MALLINSON
THOMAS LAW SPECIMEN
Enlargement
2297 Great Britain. ' Ship' Ryal of fifteen shillings, ND. Spink-2530; North-2004; Schneider-784; Fr-210. Weight 117.2 grains. Mint mark,
Escallop. Elizabeth I, 1558-1603. Obverse, Queen standing in ship sailing to left, wearing ornate dress and ruff, holding orb and sceptre. A
rose on ship' s side, with E on banner at bow, single lis to left of rose, lion between two lis to right. ELIZAB: D; G: ANG: FR: ET HIB REGINA.
Reverse, floriated cross with rose on radiant sun at center, crowned lions in the angles. IHS AVT TRANSIENS PER MEDIV ILLORVM IBAT. A
finely detailed specimen with a superb cameo portrait of the great Tudor queen. Impeccable provenance. Absolutely mint state, and glistening
with original luster. NGC graded MS-63. WINGS APPROVED.
Estimate Value ..................................................................................................................................................................$100,000 - UP
When sold as a highlight of the Thomas Law collection in 2013 this coin was described thus: ' A beautifully designed type with exquisite detail
and die workmanship, this rarity comes from the Mallinson collection sale and boasts of an older pedigree (W. Clarkson, Sotheby, 1904). Rever-
end Mallinson was a superb caretaker of his magnificent cabinet, just as Mr Law was. The reverse displays frosty luster and has the appearance
of a mint state example. Overall, a wonderful example of a coin that is virtually impossible to obtain.'
This is one of England' s most iconic gold coins and the single greatest numismatic rarity of the celebrated Elizabethan era. Only a few speci-
mens were made, they are generally encountered in low grade, and this is the finest of the surviving pieces. A great opportunity for the con-
noisseur to purchase one of Mr Law' s most treasured possessions.
Elizabeth' s coinage is particularly interesting on account of the large number of different denominations issued during her 45-year tenure. The
Ryal was the rarest item and minted in exceedingly small numbers. It should be noted that there was no example of an Elizabeth I Ryal in the
Millennia coin collection or the gold collections of Slaney, Norweb, Eliasberg, Dr Paul Broughton, or Samuel King. Catalogues at £70,000
($90,000) in VF, unpriced in higher grades.
This Ryal was produced in the years 1584-1586, at the climax of Queen Elizabeth' s relatively lengthy reign. During this period England was
starting to demonstrate its superior naval power and colonising what was eventually to become the United States of America.
In 1584 Walter Raleigh, always a court favourite, named the territory in North America Virginia in honour of Elizabeth, the ' Virgin Queen.' The
colony of Virginia became the wealthiest and most populated British colony in North America and is the oldest English place name in the USA.
In these times England had been fighting an unofficial conflict with Spain. Philip II of Spain was infuriated by England' s blatant piracy of Span-
ish ships from the New World. In 1580 Philip had become king of Portugal as well as Spain, thus increasing his maritime and merchant strength.
Spain had exerted an almost tyrannical exploitation of the New World, forbidding other countries access to the lands. Francis Drake regarded it
as open season on the Spanish, and in December 1577, with the (unofficial) encouragement of Queen Elizabeth, he set off on his voyage
around the world plundering Spanish vessels in the Americas and East Indies.
Philip' s relationship with England continued to sour, and England' s support to the Netherlands against Spain was the final straw in 1585. After
the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, in 1587, Philip believed he had a divine right to invade England, and he sent his apparently invincible
naval armada against England in July 1588. His venture was doomed by appalling weather and the better design of the nimble, smaller English
ships sent to face the attackers. This was the last major battle against Spain.
Elizabeth had all the credentials for a strong queen. She inherited much from her father Henry VIII - her physical strength and resolution, her
daunting temper, but also a passion for power, a delight in pomp and a general joy of life. She reigned longer than any English monarch since
Edward III and her reign was (at that time) the most glorious England had seen. She successfully quashed internal religious conflict and pro-
tected the realm from external threats. In November 1601 Elizabeth made a speech to the House of Commons which became known as her
Golden Speech. She used it to reaffirm her devotion to her people. ' There is no prince that loves his subjects better, or whose love can counter-
vail our love.' In this she was sincere and when she died on 24 March 1603 she was greatly loved and sorely missed. This was the end of the
first Elizabethan age and this irreplaceable coin is a rare and important relic from one of England' s greatest eras, and a memento of the birth of
the United States of America.