Elizabeth I Half Angel, sixth issue, Tower mint

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 crescent (1587-89) struck over escallop both sides, Latin legend surrounding with beaded inner and outer circles, ELIZABETH'. D'.G'. ANG'. FR'. ET: HI. 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 2.54g (Schneider 792; B&C D17; N.2006; S.2532).Toned, with rim chips, otherwise good very fine.

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 crescent mint mark. Some £46,973 worth of this mint mark was minted across the five denominations.

The date of this issue covers the Spanish Armada year of 1588.

Provenance:

ex Glendining, 19^th July 1954, lot 46.
ex Dix Noonan and Webb, Auction 50, 20^th June 2001, lot 384.