Edward IV gold Angel initial mark cinquefoil

Edward IV, second reign (1471-83),gold Angel, Tower Mint, London, St Michael killing dragon with lance, one foot on dragon, beaded circle surrounding, initial mark heraldic cinquefoil on obverse (1480-83), saltire stops with abbreviated Latin legend both sides, *EDWARDx DEI'x GRA'x REXx AnGL x'Z FRAnCxx, rev. ship sailing right, quartered shield upon hull, cross above, E to left, rose to right, initial mark pierced cross, +PER C RVCEmx TVA'x SALVAx nOSx XPC'x REDEmPT, weight 5.16g (Schneider 466; B&W XXI/XIX; N.1626; S.2091). Toned, well centred with good detail on St Michael and dragon, struck from rusty dies with associated patination, good very fine/very fine and a rare muling of mint marks.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Edward by the Grace of God, King of England and France" and on the reverse "By thy cross, save us, O Christ, our Redeemer" taken from the Bible.

In the period the cinquefoil mint mark was used on the gold coinage from 1480-83 only a relatively small amount of gold was issued compared to earlier in Edward IV's second reign. For the 42 month period from 14th September 1479 until April 1483 some 3,187 pound weight of gold was struck into gold Angels and Half-Angels which totalled a face value of £71,739.

Provenance:

Ex Glendinings, 2^nd November 1983, lot 9.

Ex A. H. Baldwin, Fixed Price List, Summer 2016, item BH018.