Sovereign: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (reverse)

1553
Diameter: 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.)
Weight: 15.399 g (0.54 oz.)
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Did You Know?

Mary I, Queen of England from 1553–58, was also known as Mary Tudor, and as "Bloody Mary" to her opponents.

Description

Upon ascending the throne, Mary announced that she would restore the coinage to its full value. This sovereign of thirty shillings is of standard gold, 23 carats, 3 1/2 grains. The fine silver pieces of the reign were in metal, 11 oz. fine. These coins are thus of the same fineness as were those of Edward VI; the silver is, in fact, 1 dwt. poorer. This coin is rare and similar to another in the collection from Edward VI, 1969.177. Mary I was the only Tudor monarch to include dates on a sovereign. Roman numerals at the end of the obverse inscription read 1553.
Sovereign: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (reverse)

Sovereign: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (reverse)

1553

England, Mary, 1553-1554

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