Sovereign: Mary Enthroned (obverse); Shield of Royal Arms on a Tudor Rose (reverse)
Unknown Artist
1553
Medium
gold
Dimensions
diam. 4.3 cm
Classification
Coins
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Norweb Collection
Accession Number
1969.179
About this artwork
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...