Edward VI gold Crown, 2nd period, Tower I, mm arrow, bare head

Edward VI (1547-53), gold Crown of Five Shillings, second period (January 1549 - April 1550), Tower I Mint, bare head bust right, Latin legend with linear and beaded borders surrounding both sides, initial mark arrow, double lozenge stops both sides, SCVTVM: FIDEI: PROTÉGÉT: EVM, rev. crowned oval quartered shield with frame, E to left, R to right, EDVVARD: VI: D: G: AGL: FR. Z. HIB: REX, weight 2.70g (Schneider 676; N.1913; S.2441). Broad strike with some excess metal around rim though a little ragged with one chip, has been lightly polished both sides, with raised die striations in fields, portrait a touch weak in striking of hair otherwise a pleasing depiction of the boy King, very fine and very rare.

NGC certification 8220521-005 - rightfully graded as UNC details cleaned.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Edward the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of England, France and Ireland"; and on the reverse "The shield of faith shall protect him."

These gold Crowns were struck in 22 carat gold in the second period of coinage at the Tower I Mint and are only known with either mint mark arrow or numeral 6 for the uncrowned bust type. The arrow mark occurs at the start of this coinage and the first eight months of output produced a face value of £42,078 worth of gold of which gold crowns like these would be a smaller proportion.