Elizabeth I gold Pound, mm anchor/key, very rare, ex Mallinson, Clarendon and Comber

Elizabeth I (1558-1603), gold Pound of Twenty Shillings, sixth issue (1583-1600), struck in 22 carat crown gold, crowned bust in ruff and elaborate dress left, Latin legend and outer beaded border on both sides, initial mark anchor struck over key both sides (1599-1600), ELIZABETH: D; G; ANG; FRA; ET: HIB; REGINA., rev. crowned quartered shield, E to left, R to right, Latin legend and toothed border surrounding, annulet stops, SCVTVM: FIDEI: PROTEGET: EAM., weight 11.18g (Schneider 803; B&C F21; N.2008; S.2534). Dusky tone, with a light crease at rear of bust and across top right of reverse, subsequently a little weak in parts in striking, otherwise good very fine with a nice face and perhaps the rarest mint mark for this denomination.

NGC certification 6318628-002.

The abbreviated Latin legends translate as on the obverse "Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland"; and on the reverse "The shield of faith shall protect her."

The mint mark anchor is used for a short period at the close of the 16^th Century only from 8^th February 1599 until 30^th April 1600 succeeding from key of which the dies for this coin are overstruck and preceding cypher O. Brown and Comber in their 1989 study published in the British Numismatic Journal peg their estimate of crown gold output at £14,098 for this mint mark.

Provenance:

Ex Reverend Arnold Mallinson, Spink Coin Auction 39, 6^th December 1984, lot 90.

Ex Clarendon Collection, part 2, Bonhams, 17^th October 2006, lot 1009.

Ex Christopher Comber Collection, part II, St James Auction 48, 23^rd September 2021, lot 135.