Edward VI gold Sovereign, second period (1549-50), ex Robinson

Edward VI (1547-53), gold Sovereign, second period (Jan. 1549-Apr. 1550), struck in crown gold of 22 carat at Twenty Shillings face value, Southwark Mint, crowned facing full-length seated figure of King on throne, holding orb and upright sword, cherub supporters on throne arms, linear inner and beaded outer circles surrounding with Latin legend both sides, Roman style lettering, initial mark Y, EDWARD; VI: DEI; GRA; AGL; FRAN; ET: HIB; REX. rev. crowned quartered shield of arms, lion supporter to left, dragon supporter to right, ER on banner below, Y IHS; AVTE; TRANSIENS: PER: MEDIV; ILLORV; IBAT;, weight 11.01g (Schneider 684; N.1906; S.2433). Fully round and of good weight, struck in a similar style to the Schneider example with a weak centre and strong upper, great facial portrait of the boy King, as are the heads of the supporters on the reverse, the visible parts good very fine or better, the weaker parts make for a bold very fine coin overall.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Edward the Sixth, by the Grace of God, King of England, France, and Ireland "; on the reverse "But Jesus, passing through the midst of them, went His way" taken from the Bible. The Under-Treasurer at the Southwark Mint at the time of this coinage was Sir John York who therefore placed his initial as the mint mark for these coins struck in 22 carat fineness an improvement on the previous 20 carat gold pieces of his late Father thought the weight was slightly reduced.

Provenance:

Ex Robinson Collection, St James Auction 1, 13^th October 2004, lot 430.

Ex Heritage Long Beach sale, 25^th September 2013, lot 24834 when graded by NGC as AU55.