TUDOR. Elizabeth I. 1558-1603. AR 4 Testerns (34mm, 13.70 g, 9h). ‘Portcullis’ money. Tower (London) mint; im: O. Struck 1600. EF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 1250. Estimated: $ 10 000

British, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 19 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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TUDOR. Elizabeth I. 1558-1603. AR 4 Testerns (34mm, 13.70 g, 9h). ‘Portcullis’ money. Tower (London) mint; im: O. Struck 1600. O : ELIZABETH · D’· G’· ANG’· FR’· ET · HIBER’· REGINA, crowned coat-of-arms; crowned E R flanking / O : POSVI · DEVM · ADIVTOREM · MEVM ·, crowned portcullis. BCW 0-1E/0-a; North –; SCBC 2607B; Pridmore 2. Small flan split. Crisply struck and richly toned. EF. Rare, especially this fine..

From the Arthur M. Fitts III Collection. Ex Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin 786 (February 1984), no. E80 'a superb piece'.

In 1600, the recently organized East India Company found themselves in need of coin. They initially planned to import the commonly used Spanish dollars, but Elizabeth refused to grant such a license, and insisted that the company use coins bearing her name and image. In the end, a compromise was reached allowing the royal mint to strike new coins with the name of the queen, but with the royal symbol of the portcullis in lieu of a portrait of a woman, which would likely have not been acceptable in the Indies. (BCW p. 11)

Ultimately, £6000 worth of silver was struck in denominations of 1, 2, 4, and 8 testerns. But even without a feminine visage, the coins proved to be unsuccessful in trade, and quickly disappeared.

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session Four – Lots 991-1315 will be held Wednesday afternoon, 11 January 2023 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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