Elizabeth I AD 1558-1603 Silver Sixpence 6th Issue

AD 1595

Crowned bust left with rose behind/Shield

mm. tun

S2577; 25mm, 2.71g

Elizabeth was one of England’s most famous queens as a result of her victory over the Spanish Armada as well as the exploits of Francis Drake, Walter Rayleigh and Shakespeare.
Elizabeth was the surviving child of Henry VIII and Henry’s second wife Anne Boleyn. Born in AD 1533 and brought up as a Protestant she was declared illegitimate when her mother was beheaded and was thus rarely seen at court. When Mary became queen Elizabeth refused to renounce her faith which put her in considerable danger. For much of Mary’s reign Elizabeth was held in Hatfield House.
Upon the death of Mary Elizabeth was proclaimed queen. Her open and gracious responses quickly endeared her to her subjects particularly when she oversaw a settlement that tolerated both Catholic and Protestant worship. Still unmarried she considered marriage to Robert Dudley however objections were raised and instead a search began to find a more acceptable husband. Despite a number of proposals, including one from Mary’s husband Philip of Spain, she remained unmarried and later became known as the Virgin queen. The lack of an heir became an increasing problem which was later only resolved by the execution of Mary Queen of Scots and the nomination of Mary’s son James VI of Scotland as Elizabeth’s heir.
Elizabeth’s reign saw increasing rivalry with Spain and the establishment of England as a naval power which in turn resulted in the beginnings of empire with the establishment of the East India Company.
Elizabeth’s reign is interesting numismatically due to the large number of different denominations issued. Her reign also saw the first introduction of milled coinage when silver shillings and sixpences were introduced between AD 1561 and 1570. Despite their high quality these coins were only issued for a few years and were not to re appear again until the reign of Charles I.

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Elizabeth I AD 1558-1603 Silver Threepence 5th Issue

AD 1579

Crowned bust with rose behind/Shield

mm. Latin Cross

S2573; 19mm, 1.30g

Elizabeth was one of England’s most famous queens as a result of her victory over the Spanish Armada as well as the exploits of Francis Drake, Walter Rayleigh and Shakespeare.
Elizabeth was the surviving child of Henry VIII and Henry’s second wife Anne Boleyn. Born in AD 1533 and brought up as a Protestant she was declared illegitimate when her mother was beheaded and was thus rarely seen at court. When Mary became queen Elizabeth refused to renounce her faith which put her in considerable danger. For much of Mary’s reign Elizabeth was held in Hatfield House.
Upon the death of Mary Elizabeth was proclaimed queen. Her open and gracious responses quickly endeared her to her subjects particularly when she oversaw a settlement that tolerated both Catholic and Protestant worship. Still unmarried she considered marriage to Robert Dudley however objections were raised and instead a search began to find a more acceptable husband. Despite a number of proposals, including one from Mary’s husband Philip of Spain, she remained unmarried and later became known as the Virgin queen. The lack of an heir became an increasing problem which was later only resolved by the execution of Mary Queen of Scots and the nomination of Mary’s son James VI of Scotland as Elizabeth’s heir.
Elizabeth’s reign saw increasing rivalry with Spain and the establishment of England as a naval power which in turn resulted in the beginnings of empire with the establishment of the East India Company.
Elizabeths reign is interesting numismatically due to the large number of different denominations issued. Her reign also saw the first introduction of milled coinage when silver shillings and sixpences were introduced between AD 1561 and 1570. Despite their high quality these coins were only issued for a few years and were not to re appear again until the reign of Charles I.

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Elizabeth I AD 1558-1603 Silver Threehalfpence 3rd/4th Issue

AD1575

Crowned bust left with rose behind/Shield

mm. Eglantine

S2569; 15mm, 0.74g

Elizabeth was one of England’s most famous queens as a result of her victory over the Spanish Armada as well as the exploits of Francis Drake, Walter Rayleigh and Shakespeare.
Elizabeth was the surviving child of Henry VIII and Henry’s second wife Anne Boleyn. Born in AD 1533 and brought up as a Protestant she was declared illegitimate when her mother was beheaded and was thus rarely seen at court. When Mary became queen Elizabeth refused to renounce her faith which put her in considerable danger. For much of Mary’s reign Elizabeth was held in Hatfield House.
Upon the death of Mary Elizabeth was proclaimed queen. Her open and gracious responses quickly endeared her to her subjects particularly when she oversaw a settlement that tolerated both Catholic and Protestant worship. Still unmarried she considered marriage to Robert Dudley however objections were raised and instead a search began to find a more acceptable husband. Despite a number of proposals, including one from Mary’s husband Philip of Spain, she remained unmarried and later became known as the Virgin queen. The lack of an heir became an increasing problem which was later only resolved by the execution of Mary Queen of Scots and the nomination of Mary’s son James VI of Scotland as Elizabeth’s heir.
Elizabeth’s reign saw increasing rivalry with Spain and the establishment of England as a naval power which in turn resulted in the beginnings of empire with the establishment of the East India Company.
Elizabeths reign is interesting numismatically due to the large number of different denominations issued. Her reign also saw the first introduction of milled coinage when silver shillings and sixpences were introduced between AD 1561 and 1570. Despite their high quality these coins were only issued for a few years and were not to re appear again until the reign of Charles I.

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Crowned bust facing/Long cross

No marks by neck, quatrefoil in centre of reverse

S2127; 14mm, 0.52g

Edward IV was born in Rouen and until the death of his father at the Battle of Wakefield in AD 1460 was known as the Earl of March. Taking up the Yorkist cause upon the death of his father Defeating the Lancastrians at Mortimers Cross and Towton he claimed the throne and was first crowned in AD 1461. He married Elizabeth Woodville in AD 1464. This led to a dispute with his chief adviser Richard Neville the Duke of Warwick. Eventually Warwick defected to the Lancastrians which resulted in Edward being deposed and Henry VI being reinstated. Edward fought back defeating Warwick at the Battle of Barnet and the Lancastrians at the Battle of Tewkesbury in AD 1471. Warwick as well as Henry VI’s son Edward were killed and shortly afterwards Henry VI in the Tower. Edward reclaimed the throne.

Edward’s spending greatly exceeded his income and as a result the coinage was debased during his reign with the introduction of the Light coinage in AD 1464. Edward was keen on the arts and his count was described as being one of the most splendid in Europe. Edward died suddenly in AD 1483.

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Crowned bust facing/Long cross

mm. tun, Canterbury mint

S2209; 18mm, 1.53g

Henry Tudor was the son of a Lancastrian, Edmund Earl of Richmond, and Margaret Beaufort who was a descendant of John of Gaunt. His father died before he was born whilst his mother Margaret was only 13 at the time of his birth. By AD 1483 Henry was the senior member of the house of Lancaster and was actively being promoted by his mother as an alternative to the Yorkists. Landing in Wales in August AD 1485 the 2 armies met at Bosworth Fields where Richard was defeated and killed.
Claiming the throne Henry was crowned in October AD 1485. The following year he made good on his pledge of marrying Elizabeth of York thereby uniting the Houses of Lancaster and York under the Tudor rose. Although he faced a number of threats Henry effectively established his rule and proved to be an able administrator and was also fiscally prudent. The were a number of reforms to the currency during his reign including the introduction of the magnificent gold sovereign as well as the introduction of the silver testoon and high quality silver profile coinage.
Henry was the last English king to win his throne in battle.

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Crowned bust facing/Long cross

London

S1575; 21mm, 2.26g

Son of Edward II, Edward III is another great warrior king of The Middle Ages and is most famous for his campaigns in France and the great English victories at Sluys, Crecy and Poitiers at the start of the Hundred Years War. A campaign against the Scots at the start of his reign was unsuccessful however when Edward dismissed his chief minister, Roger Mortimer, he agreed a truce before taking up arms against France. The English won a naval victory at Sluys in AD 1340 which gave them control of the Channel. Landing an army in France Edward beat the French at Crecy capturing Calais. Ten years later his son Edward, The Black Prince, won an impressive victory at Poitiers thanks in part to the effectiveness of the English longbows. The Treaty of Bretigny in AD 1360 granted Edward additional territory in France although he also renounced his claim to the French throne. There was then a lull in the war and as Edward became older he became more lethargic leaving most of the campaigning to his sons
Edward’s reign saw the devastation of England’s population as well as those of most other European countries. Edward instigated various Legal reforms but is better known for his creation of various orders of chivalry which include the Order of the Garter. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were also written towards the end of his reign.
The Groat was reintroduced during Edward’s reign together the first issue of gold coinage. Firstly the florin or leopard followed by the noble. In Ireland there was a small issue of silver halfpennies however there was a large issue of Anglo Gallic coins both in Edward’s name and also his son the Black Prince.

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Crowned bust facing, bushy hair/Long cross

EDWARDVS REX

London

S1557; 14mm, 0.45g

Son of Edward II, Edward III is another great warrior king of The Middle Ages and is most famous for his campaigns in France and the great English victories at Sluys, Crecy and Poitiers at the start of the Hundred Years War. A campaign against the Scots at the start of his reign was unsuccessful however when Edward dismissed his chief minister, Roger Mortimer, he agreed a truce before taking up arms against France. The English won a naval victory at Sluys in AD 1340 which gave them control of the Channel. Landing an army in France Edward beat the French at Crecy capturing Calais. Ten years later his son Edward, The Black Prince, won an impressive victory at Poitiers thanks in part to the effectiveness of the English longbows. The Treaty of Bretigny in AD 1360 granted Edward additional territory in France although he also renounced his claim to the French throne. There was then a lull in the war and as Edward became older he became more lethargic leaving most of the campaigning to his sons
Edward’s reign saw the devastation of England’s population as well as those of most other European countries. Edward instigated various Legal reforms but is better known for his creation of various orders of chivalry which include the Order of the Garter. Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales were also written towards the end of his reign.
The Groat was reintroduced during Edward’s reign together the first issue of gold coinage. Firstly the florin or leopard followed by the noble. In Ireland there was a small issue of silver halfpennies however there was a large issue of Anglo Gallic coins both in Edward’s name and also his son the Black Prince.

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Crowned bust facing with annulets by neck/Long cross

Calais

S1840; 21mm, 1.71g

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

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Crowned bust facing/Long cross with annulets in 2 quarters

London

S1848; 13mm, 0.55g

Henry VI was the infant son of Henry V when he was crowned king in AD 1422. Later crowned king of France in Notre Dame, Paris in AD 1431 he later presided over the reconquest of all of his French empire with the exception of Calais by the time the Hundred Years war ended in AD 1453. A weak but pious and learned man he founded Eton College as well as Kings College, Cambridge and All Souls , Oxford. Married to a strong willed woman, Margaret of Anjou, he became increasingly unpopular. Eventually the Dukes of York and Somerset broke and away and the civil war which broke out in AD 1455 became known as the Wars of the Roses. Defeated Henry was deposed in AD1461 and succeeded by York’s son Edward IV. Later restored briefly in AD 1471 Henry was again deposed and this time killed.

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Crowned bust facing with pellet eyes/ Long cross

London

S1408; 19mm, 1.37g

Edward was one of the great warrior kings of the Middle Ages. Also known as Longshanks on account of his height and as the Hammer of the Scots he initially rebelled against his father, Henry III, but was loyal during the Barons war. Captured by the barons he quickly escaped and defeated and killed the baron’s leader Simon de Montfort at the Battle of Evesham in AD 1265. Effectively acting as Regent for the remainder of Henry’s reign Edward away on a Crusade when Henry died in AD 1272. During the early part of his reign he campaigned against the Welsh eventually conquering the country and installing his son, Edward II, as Prince of Wales. Many of the castles in Wales and the borders were built by Edward to help garrison the country.
Initially Edwards relations with Scotland were amical however after the death of Alexander III there was a crisis of succession. When John Balliol was eventually chosen to succeed his refusal accept Edward as overlord or to provide troops for Edwards campaign against France resulted in Edward’s invasion of Scotland in AD 1296. He beat the Scots at the Battle of Dunbar and captured Berwick upon Tweed. John Balliol was deposed and Edward also removed Scottish Coronation stone from Scone and took it back to Westminster.
The following year the Scots under William Wallace defeated the English. Edward returned to Scotland and eventually succeeded in capturing Wallace who was transported back to London where he was hung, drawn and quartered. The Scots then rallied under Robert the Bruce. Edward was on his way back to Scotland when he died near Carlisle.
Edward was instrumental in the establishment of Parliament and also for carrying out various Legal reforms. He also is known for his persecution of the English Jews and their eventual expulsion in AD 1290 following a long running dispute with the church.
During Edwards reign the great recoinage of AD 1279 saw Short Cross pennies being replaced by the Long Cross Penny in an attempt to prevent coins from being clipped. Silver Halfpennies and Farthings were introduced for the first time as well as a Silver Groat although in the case the groat the issue was soon withdrawn. There were also coin issues minted in Ireland whilst Edward was king and also Lord of Ireland prior to his accession. In the Anglo Gallic series coins in Edwards name were issued in both Aquitaine and Ponthieu.

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