Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 11024 - Ancient, English & Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals
Lot: 92

Mary (sole rule, 1553-54), Ryal, 7.62g, mdliii (1553), m.m. pomegranate, queen, crowned, standing facing, in a ship with flag with letter m on bow castle and rose on hull, holding sword in right hand and left hand resting on shield, annulet stops, rev. rose over radiate sun over floriate cross, crowned leopard in angles, annulet stops (Schneider 709 - same dies; N.1957; S.2489), an unusually full round and well struck example with an attractive portrait, light crease, a small striking crack by tassle in centre on obverse, otherwise good very fine, extremely rare Estimate £ 80,000-100,000 provenance V.J.E. Ryan, Glendining, 28-30 June 1950, lot 260 B. Roth, Sotheby, 19-20 July 1917, lot 274 A.W. Hankin, Sotheby, 29 March 1900, lot 308 There is a remarkable difference between the ship Ryals of Mary and Elizabeth I. Mary appears plainly and solemnly dressed, holding a sword and shield and standing in an old fashioned high castled galleon. Twenty-five years later, her sucessor Elizabeth I is shown elaborately and splendidly dressed, holding an orb and sceptre and standing in a ship recognisably the English warship of Drake and Hawkins as seen on medals, engravings and pictures from the time of the Spanish Armada. The contrast is not accidental. Mary represents militant piety of a monarchy defending the old religious order. Elizabeth on the other hand links the majesty and eminence of the queen to English naval technology, projecting Elizabethan diplomatic policy within the politics of the counter reformation. Both ship Ryals are rare, the Mary extremely so - only five examples have appeared at auction in the last sixty years.

Sold for
£135,000