Half Sovereign: Edward VI (obverse); Crowned Royal Arms (reverse)
Unknown Artist
1549–50
Medium
gold
Dimensions
diam. 2.9 cm
Classification
Coins
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Norweb Collection
Accession Number
1969.175
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
During the first coinage period, April 1547 to January 1549, debased coinage was still issued. Part of it still had the name and portrait of Henry VIII; part of it the name of Henry, but a youthful portrait; and part of it the name of Edward. The series is thus complex and some of the chronology open to doubt. In 1549, the beginning of the second coinage period, the first step was taken to restore the standard of the coinage. Gold, including the piece shown, was struck in 22 ct. This coin shows ...