Description
Philip and Mary (1554-58), Angel, class IV, St Michael slaying dragon right, smaller wing issue, inner linear circle, legend surrounding with beaded border both sides, initial mark lis, pellet stops, reads PHILIP Z MARIA DG REX Z REGINA. Rev, flat decked ship sailing right, large quartered shield of arms at centre, P and M above flanking cross, legend surrounding, A DNO FACTVM EST ISTVD Z EST MIRABILE, 4.97g (S.2496; N.1965; Schneider 727). The Angels of Philip & Mary are the largest Gold denomination available in the series, making them very rare, there are no definitive mintage figures ready at hand. This example has been encapsulated and graded by PCGS as Extremely Fine (XF40) with an extensive provenance including several titled collections. Some natural weakness to the strike, all the main elements of the coin are visible as are the legends, the classic and central motif of Saint Michael slaying the dragon in place. Struck on a broad flan, very rare.
Ex. Sir Kenyon Vaughan Morgan, Sotheby’s, 17th June 1935, lot
Ex. Glendining’s, 17th November 1970, lot
Ex Glendining’s, 22nd May 1985, lot
Ex. Thomas Law, Stack’s, 13th August 2013
This coin began its journey at auction on Monday 17th June 1935 lot 29 via Sotheby’s as part of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Kenyon Pascoe Vaughan-Morgan’s (27 October 1873 – 21 August 1933) choice collection of English coins. Vaughan-Morgan had been a British military officer and politician, who served as Conservative Member of Parliament for Fulham East from 1922 until his death. Many of his coins, it has been noted in the initial Sotheby’s catalogue had previously passed through the Montague, Murdoch, Hilton Price amongst other
famous collections. After almost eighty years had elapsed this angel found itself in the Thomas Law collection, which took place mid-August 2013 via Stack’s.
