Elizabeth I Half Angel, sixth issue, mint mark hand

Elizabeth I (1558-1603), fine gold Half-Angel of five shillings, sixth issue (1583-1600), St Michael slaying dragon right, inner and outer beaded circle, initial mark hand (1590-92) both sides, Latin legend surrounding with beaded inner and outer circles, no stops in legend, ELIZABETH D G ANG FR ET HIB REGINA,rev. ship sailing right, large quartered shield upon hull, cross above, E to left, rose to right, Latin legend and outer beaded border surrounding, A DNO' FACTVM. EST ISTVD ET. EST MIRA.', weight 2.61g (Schneider -; B&C D20a; N.2006; S.2532).Toned, a little uneven in shape, one weakly struck part to portion of legend both sides, one small x shape scratch by spear, otherwise good very fine, no example of this mark in the famed Schneider collection, very rare.

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 "This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes." A Psalm from the Bible.

A new indenture of the 30^th January 1583 was issued to Sir Richard Martin as Master Worker for fine gold coins from Angel to Quarter-Angel at a fineness of 23 ct 3 ½ gr fineness or 0.995 fine. A later commission of 20^th April 1584 added the two larger denominations of Sovereigns and Ryals, to then fully provide for five denominations with fine gold Sovereigns of Thirty Shillings (Double Nobles), Ryals at fifteen Shillings (Nobles), Angels at ten shillings, as well as the Half Angels and Quarter Angels in the period of the hand mint mark. Some £40,778 worth of this mint mark was minted across the five denominations.

Provenance:

Ex Collection of Elizabethan Gold Coins, Property of a Gentleman, Spink Coin Auction 104, 6^th July 1994, lot 185.

Ex Christopher Comber Collection, part II, St James Auction 48, 23^rd September 2021, lot 129.