The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 16, 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 woman 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: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (reverse)

1553
gold
Diameter: 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.)
The Norweb Collection 1969.179
Location: not on view

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.
  • -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. 38
  • 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: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (reverse)|url=false|author=|year=1553|access-date=16 March 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1969.179