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TUDOR. Edward VI. 1547-1553. Pattern AR Shilling (28mm, 5.71 g, 2h). Tower (London) mint; im: rose. By A. Levens(?). Dated 1547 in Roman numerals. (cinquefoil) EDWARD’ ◊ VI ◊ REX ◊ ANGL ◊ FRANC ◊ HIBER ◊ Z C, crowned and mantled bust right / (cinquefoil) TIMOR ◊ DOMINI ◊ FONS ◊ VITÆ ◊ M ◊ D ◊ XLVII, garnished goat-of-arms; E R across field. Bispham pl. 2, 1 (same dies as illustration); Potter, Coinage p. 128 (this coin referenced); North 1953; SCBC –. Old collection toning with hints of gold at margins. A tiny attempt at piercing at the end of the obverse legend, some minor surface marks in obverse field and evidence of an old crease. VF. Extremely rare, with very few specimens available on the market.
From the Arthur M. Fitts III Collection, purchased privately from Classical Numismatic Group, February 2020. Ex M. Lessen (Dix Noonan Webb 168, 29 January 2020), lot 858; Spink Numismatic Circular LXXIV.10 (October 1964), no. 5545; H.H. Snellenburg Collection; R.C. Lockett (English Part II, Glendining, 11 October 1956), lot 1882, purchased from Baldwin’s; A.W. Barnes Collection; J.G. Murdoch (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 31 March 1903), lot 534; H. Montagu (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 11 May 1896), lot 856; J.G. Murdoch (Sotheby, Wilkinson, & Hodge, 12 February 1889), lot 10.
On his accession to the the throne, the nine year old Edward VI inherited a coinage which had reached a nadir in English history. The successive debasements of his father Henry VIII left the majority of the silver in circulation composed of 3 parts alloy to 1 part silver. The vast majority of Edward’s first coinage was struck to the same fineness and bore the name and portrait of his father. The existence of extremely rare pattern shillings dated 1547 in good silver suggests that a major reform of the fineness of the coinage was considered early on in the boy king’s reign. Bispham has demonstrated the stylistic links between the dies for the pattern shilling and the later debased shillings struck at Durham House and suggested that the dies were engraved by a Frenchman, Anthony Levens. An additional interpretation for the existence of the pattern shilling of 1547 is that it can be seen as part of a wider propaganda campaign orchestrated by Archbishop Cramner to promote the fledgling royal and Protestant supremacy. Though still a child, as King and head of the Church of England it was important that Edward’s image was cultivated both at home and abroad. These pattern shillings can therefore arguably be seen in the same context as the magnificent medals associated with Edward’s coronation and presentation strikings such as the double weight fine sovereign of 60 shillings.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 121 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 6-8 October 2022. This lot is in Session Five, which will begin 8 October 2022 at 9 AM 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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