Elizabeth I fine gold Quarter Angel 6th issue, mm A, MS63, finest graded, ex Comber

Elizabeth I (1558-1603), fine gold Quarter-Angel of two shillings and sixpence, sixth issue (1583-1600), St Michael slaying dragon right, St Michael wearing tunic, initial mark A (1584-85) both sides, struck over bell on obverse, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, pellet stops both sides, ELIZABETH: D; G; ANG; FRANCIE, rev. ship sailing right, quartered shield of arms upon hull, cross above, E to left, rose to right, Latin legend and beaded border surrounding, ET. HIBERNIE. REGINA. FIDEI., weight 1.15g (Schneider 794; Brown and Comber E12; N.2007; S.2533). Toned with some red colour, has been slabbed and graded by NGC as MS63, scarce mint mark and overstrike and the finest graded Quarter Angel currently at both services.

NGC Certification 5880691-003.

We note that this coin is currently by far the finest graded Quarter Angel at the grading services by a margin of at least five grading steps.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate across both sides of the coin as "Elizabeth by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, of Faith" the Defender word to go with faith not present.

The mint mark of gothic type A was current on the fine gold coinage for a year from 1st February 1584 until the 31^st January 1585, and is fully accounted for across the three fine gold denominations to a total of £37,563 which is the fifth highest fine gold output of the reign. The minor denominations were likely struck in the smallest quantity compared to larger coins and the fact this is an overstruck mint mark shows the obverse die at least had survived use from the bell mint mark the year before, no doubt due to being sparingly used. By this time Richard Martin was the new Master-Worker as of a commission of 22^nd August 1582, as John Lonyson had died during the early part of the year, and a new indenture was issued on the 30^th January 1583 to the now knighted Sir Richard Martin. The mint mark A heralds the return of the fine gold Sovereign after a hiatus of just over twenty years, so some of the £37,563 will be also for this large gold Double Noble as it was officially termed in the commission to add it as a denomination to coin dated 20^th April 1584.

Provenance:

Ex Mark Rasmussen Numismatist, Surrey, purchased 2001.

Ex Christopher H. Comber Collection, Part I, Baldwin of St James Auction 50, 15^th October 2020, lot 33.