Description
Elizabeth I (1558-1603), Crown, Seventh issue, ornate and elaborate crowned bust left, holding orb and sceptre, mintmark 1 (1601-2), inner beaded linear borders both sides, legend surrounding, ELIZABETH DG ANG FRA ET HIBER REGINA. Rev, long cross fourchée dividing legend under quartered square topped shield of arms, legend surrounding POSVI DEVM AD IVTORE M MEVM, 30.02g (S.2582; N.2012).
A bold strike on good metal, the flan fully rounded with an edge flaw at 3 o’clock. Lustrous slate grey toning with an intricately detailed bust, all legends clear. The usual metal fissures and annealing marks as seen on practically all examples, a little fade in the right hand side of the reverse shield. About extremely fine, rare.
Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Crowns were struck exclusively within the last few years of her reign within her seventh coinage, carrying either mintmark 1 (1601) or 2 (1602-3). The Royal mint officers at the time were a Richard Martin and a Thomas Knyvett. Mintmark 1 appeared to have been struck from the 29th of July 1601, through to the 14th May 1602. Mintmark 2 came into existence from the 14th May 1602 up until the 7th of June 1603. F.R. Cooper outlined within his article in the Spink Numismatic Circular of June 1971, that most probably one pair of dies were used for the mintmark 2 Crown (recognised as a true Tudor rarity) the mintmark 1 Crown had a selection of five obverse dies and six reverse dies. Gradually becoming more difficult to procure in stronger grades, a hugely popular coin, essential for the discerning Crown collector.
