The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Two sides of a gold coin with an inscription circling an image on both sides (see "Inscriptions" field). On the left, an enthroned, stylized man wears a crown and holds a scepter and orb. On the right, wavy petals suggest a rose surrounding a coat of arms divided into four sections. The upper left and lower right sections feature three stylized fleur-de-lis lilies and the remaining sections three elongated and barely discernable lions.

Sovereign of Thirty Shillings: Edward VI Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on Rose (reverse)

1550–53

England, Edward VI, 1547-1553

gold
Diameter: 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.)
The Norweb Collection 1969.177
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

The reverse shield of arms shows three fleurs-de-lis for France and three lions for England, each repeated.

Description

This extremely rare coin was struck at the Tower mint during the last period of the reign (1550–53). It was struck in high quality gold of 23 carat 3 1/2 grains, and the mint mark, an ostrich head, is unusual and unknown outside this coinage. The mint mark can be see on the obverse, above Edward's crown and before the text starts.
  • -1969
    Mrs. Emery May Holden Norweb (1895-1984), Cleveland, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    1969-
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Cleveland Museum of Art, and Emery May Norweb. English Gold Coins, Ancient to Modern Times, On Loan to the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Norweb Collection. [Catalog. 1968. p. 36
  • Year in Review: 1969. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 27-February 22, 1970).
    English Gold Coins: Ancient to Modern Times. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1963).
  • {{cite web|title=Sovereign of Thirty Shillings: Edward VI Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on Rose (reverse)|url=false|author=|year=1550–53|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.177