Sovereign of Thirty Shillings: Elizabeth I (obverse); Shield of Arms on Tudor Rose (reverse)
Unknown Artist
1583–1603
Medium
gold
Dimensions
diam. 4.3 cm
Classification
Coins
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Norweb Collection
Accession Number
1969.181
About this artwork
A point of interest of this very rare piece is the initial mark. The mark, in the shape of a crosslet, and visible at the start of the inscription, dates the die to 1560–61. However here it has been over stamped with another mark, an A, used in 1583–85. This indicates the reuse of the die of the first coinage during the third coinage period. The restoration of the coinage to its proper fineness was completed during this reign. In 1562 a proclamation had been issued reducing the value of all coin...